Statehood Day commemorates 25 June 1991 when the Croatian Parliament adopted a historic resolution initiating the process of disassociation from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia based on the results of a referendum held on 19 May 1991.
"With undisguised satisfaction and pride, we are notifying all republics and federal bodies of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the whole world about the sovereign will of the Croatian people and all citizens of the Republic to declare the Republic of Croatia an independent and sovereign state as of today, and we are inviting all governments and the parliaments of all states to accept and recognise the free decision of the Croatian people, an act of freedom whereby one more nation wants to become a full member of the international community of the free world," then President Franjo Tudjman told Parliament on the occasion of the adoption of the constitutional decision on Croatia's independence.
That same day Slovenia, too, declared its sovereignty and independence from the former Yugoslavia.
Through the mediation of the international community, the entry into force of the constitutional decision of 25 June 1991 was delayed for three months to facilitate disassociation negotiations among the former Yugoslav republics.
At that time, namely since August 1990, Croatia was exposed to military aggression by Serb extremists and the Yugoslav People's Army. A quarter of its territory was under occupation, and the Croatian people rose in defence of their homeland. The country suffered extensive destruction and heavy casualties during the war.
Most of the occupied territories were liberated in 1995 in combined military and police operations known as Storm and Flash, and the remaining territory under Serb occupation, Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem, was peacefully reintegrated in 1998.
Croatia joined NATO on 1 April 2009 and the European Union on 1 July 2013.
Until 2001 Statehood Day was observed on 30 May to commemorate the inauguration of the first multi-party Croatian Parliament in 1990. Today 30 May is observed as Croatian Parliament Day.
Foreign statesmen congratulate Croats on Statehood Day
On the occasion of Croatia's Statehood Day, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has received congratulations to all Croatian citizens from numerous statesmen, including Pope Francis, US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of several European states, her office said on Sunday.
In his note, Pope Francis has voiced hope that commitment to justice and peace will enable the building of a society in which every person can find their place, serenity and happiness.
President Trump has said US-Croatia partnership continues to grow stronger, both within NATO, where the two countries' troops stand shoulder to shoulder, defending the common freedom, and in the economy and culture. He adds that every year more and more Americans discover Croatia's beauties and that the US is open to Croatian students, investors and entrepreneurs in their efforts to turn their dreams of a stronger and more prosperous future into reality.
President Putin has said that Russia attaches great significance to cooperation with Croatia and believes that, with joint efforts, they can build mutually useful cooperation to the benefit of their peoples, in the interest of maintaining stability and security in Europe.
In his note, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier underlines that Germany and Croatia are closely linked, that nurturing bilateral relations and politically shaping the European Union remains their task, and that this joint pushing for the benefit of the two countries, their citizens and Europe will be evident not just symbolically but also concretely in 2020, when the two countries will succeed each other in chairing the Council of the EU, which he says will additionally strengthen cooperation.
Hungarian President Janos Ader has said the partnership and friendship of Hungary and Croatia has a remarkable history which makes it unique in the region in many ways. He is confident the two countries can contribute, through joint action, to forming Europe's future and increasing the economic and political weight of their region.
Slovak President Andrej Kiska has said he is glad the two countries are successfully continuing to develop close and friendly relations reflected in a strong partnership and alliance in the EU and NATO. He is confident the upcoming NATO summit will be an opportunity to strengthen common security and remember shared values.
In his note, Italian President Sergio Mattarella says Grabar-Kitarovic's visit recent official visit to Italy confirmed the excellent bilateral relations. He adds that the strong ties between Zagreb and Rome, which are even stronger after the renewal in January of the coordinating committee of the two governments' ministers and the constant contribution of the two respective minorities, provide another opportunity to deepen relations through NATO and the commitment to EU enlargement.
The Governor-General of Australia, Sir Peter John Cosgrove, recalls in his note meeting with Grabar-Kitarovic when she visited his country last August. He says Australian Croats have enriched Australian society, providing the foundations for the strengthening of academic, business and cultural exchange.
Congratulations to Croatian citizens on the occasion of Statehood Day have also come from presidents Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria, Prokopios Pavlopoulos of Greece, E. Alain Berset of Switzerland, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico, Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria, Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez of Cuba, Moon Jae-in of South Korea, Abdul Hamid of Bangladesh and Michel Aoun of the Lebanon.
Congratulations have also been sent by kings Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrein and Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan, Emperor Akihito of Japan and Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman.