ZAGREB, Oct 7 (Hina) - The tenth anniversary of independence, which the Croatian parliament had proclaimed by passing a decision on the cancellation of all ties with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRJ), will not be
celebrated as a national holiday this year either, however, because of the importance of the date, it has been proposed that October 8 in the future be celebrated as Independence Day. The proposal, submitted by Ivo Skrabalo of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) that October 8 be a state holiday and celebrated as Independence Day, has been sent to the second reading and for now it is supported by the ruling coalition. Croatian Statehood Day, May 30, would no longer be a state holiday but a remembrance day when the parliament and other state bodies would remember the first session of the multi-party parliament. At the October 8 1991 session, the Croatian parliament refuted th
ZAGREB, Oct 7 (Hina) - The tenth anniversary of independence, which
the Croatian parliament had proclaimed by passing a decision on the
cancellation of all ties with the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia (SFRJ), will not be celebrated as a national holiday
this year either, however, because of the importance of the date, it
has been proposed that October 8 in the future be celebrated as
Independence Day.
The proposal, submitted by Ivo Skrabalo of the Croatian Social
Liberal Party (HSLS) that October 8 be a state holiday and
celebrated as Independence Day, has been sent to the second reading
and for now it is supported by the ruling coalition.
Croatian Statehood Day, May 30, would no longer be a state holiday
but a remembrance day when the parliament and other state bodies
would remember the first session of the multi-party parliament.
At the October 8 1991 session, the Croatian parliament refuted the
legitimacy of all SFRJ bodies, stressing the SFRJ no longer
existed. The MPs invoked the inalienable right to self-
determination, the will of the Croatian citizens expressed at a
referendum in May 1991, the Declaration on Sovereignty and
Independence and the Constitutional Decision on Sovereignty and
Independence dating June 25, 1991.
It was concluded that Serbia and the former Yugoslav People's Army
(JNA) had launched aggression against Croatia and the JNA was
proclaimed the occupier. Croatia had demanded of the JNA to
immediately leave all occupied Croatian territories.
It had also been demanded of the JNA to enable Croatian citizens who
were at the time serving in the JNA to leave and go to their homes.
The Croatian parliament also called upon Bosnia-Herzegovina and
Montenegro not to allow the JNA to use their territories for war
against Croatia.
In line with the international law regulations Croatia had assumed
commitments towards other countries and international
organisations to entirely respect laws and regulations of the SFRJ
in a part referring to Croatia and the parliament had called upon
all countries to recognise Croatia's independence.
During the holding of the parliament session, a general alert was
proclaimed almost across the entire Croatia, so the parliament held
a session outside of the parliament building.
The JNA and Serb paramilitary forces, together with a part of rebel
Serbs from Croatia, attacked Vukovar, Dubrovnik, Vinkovci, Osijek,
Pakrac, Gospic, Sibenik, Zadar, and a general alert was also
proclaimed in Zagreb, where, a day earlier, a rocket attack was
launched on the then President's Palace.
(hina) it sb