ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - On the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the international recognition of Croatia, January 15, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in a public address on Sunday that the recognition was a very important formal
and legal, as well as political event for Croatia which at the time was engulfed by war. "Nine years have passed since the great enthusiasm possessed the entire country - the day when Croatia became an internationally recognised state. Paraphrasing Neil Armstrong, we can say: This was such a small step for the world and such a giant step for Croatia. This step included our Homeland in the circle of full members of the world community, which accepted Croatia as an independent and sovereign state. The international recognition was an important formal and legal as well as political event for Croatia which was at the time engulfed by war. That was a m
ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - On the occasion of the ninth anniversary of
the international recognition of Croatia, January 15, Prime
Minister Ivica Racan said in a public address on Sunday that the
recognition was a very important formal and legal, as well as
political event for Croatia which at the time was engulfed by war.
"Nine years have passed since the great enthusiasm possessed the
entire country - the day when Croatia became an internationally
recognised state. Paraphrasing Neil Armstrong, we can say: This was
such a small step for the world and such a giant step for Croatia.
This step included our Homeland in the circle of full members of the
world community, which accepted Croatia as an independent and
sovereign state.
The international recognition was an important formal and legal as
well as political event for Croatia which was at the time engulfed
by war. That was a moral satisfaction for all the victims. That was
also an encouragement in the difficult days after the fall of
Vukovar telling us to hold on in the struggle against the
aggression.
The experience that we gained and that we are still gaining confirms
how much cooperation and dialogue are important in our interior
affairs in Croatia, as well as in the relations between Croatia and
the world.
The international recognition of the Republic of Croatia in January
1992 was the beginning of the long process of our approaching the
world community of states. The initial enthusiasm was soon shaded
by disappointments. The world was not able nor willing to act in
line with our wishes. We slowly began to learn that belonging to a
circle of recognised countries also meant obligations, duties and
adjustment to world standards. When the former authorities started
to oppose this, we began to sink into isolation owing to our own
politics. We fell out step with Europe.
The elections in January last year demonstrated how much the word
actually cares about us and how much it was ready to welcome the
political changes in Croatia. As soon as Croatia opened to the
world, the world opened to Croatia.
With big steps we entered the Partnership for Peace programme and
World Trade Organisation and we started negotiations on
association with the European Union.
Still, what we have achieved in the past year lies on the
international recognition of the Republic of Croatia, of January
15, 1992, therefore this event remains Croatia's crucial
guideline", Racan said in the public addressed, the Croatian
Government media and public relations office reported.
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