Croatia Celebrates Statehood Day

Croatia today celebrates Statehood Day, a holiday that marks the historic decision to initiate the process of separating Croatia from the other former Yugoslav republics, which was adopted by the Croatian Parliament on June 25, 1991.

This decision was preceded by a referendum decision of the majority of Croatian citizens, (92.18 percent) that Croatia would not remain in Yugoslavia as a unified federal state.

Based on such a manifestation of the will of the Croatian citizens, and after the failure of negotiations with the other former Yugoslav republics regarding the exit from the state-political crisis, the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia adopted, at a joint session of all three parliamentary councils, the Constitutional Decision on the Sovereignty and Independence of the Republic of Croatia. This act establishes that by this act Croatia initiates the process of separation from other republics and the SFRY as well as the process for international recognition. At the same session, the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia also adopted the Declaration on the Proclamation of a Sovereign and Independent Republic of Croatia.

Through the mediation of the international community, for easier negotiations on the separation among the former Yugoslav republics, the Brijuni Declaration established a three-month moratorium on the application of the Constitutional Decision, and upon the expiration of the moratorium, on October 8, 1991, Croatia terminated its legal ties with the other Yugoslav republics and became a free, independent, and sovereign state.

On the occasion of Statehood Day of the Republic of Croatia, the state leadership laid wreaths and lit candles at the Mirogoj City Cemetery. The President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipović, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović, and the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Josip Leko laid a wreath and lit candles at the monument Voice of Croatian Victims – Wall of Pain and at the Tomb of National Heroes.

The Presidents of the Republic, the Government, and the Parliament then laid a wreath and lit candles in front of the Central Cross in the Alley of Fallen Croatian Defenders from the Homeland War, then at the grave of the first Croatian President Dr. Franjo Tuđman and at the common grave for unidentified victims from the Homeland War at the Crematorium.

President Josipović and Speaker Leko then laid wreaths and lit candles at the grave of the late Prime Minister (from 2000 to 2003), Ivica Račan, and the late Speaker of the Parliament Boris Šprem. At the Zagreb cemetery Mirogoj, along with the Presidents of the Republic, the Government, and the Parliament, wreaths and candles were also laid by a delegation of the City of Zagreb led by Mayor Milan Bandić.

President Josipović will also host a ceremonial concert of the Zagreb Philharmonic at the Croatian National Theatre (HNK), during which he will present awards given on the occasion of Statehood Day of the Republic of Croatia.