Congratulations on the anniversary of the international recognition and peaceful reintegration were sent, in a statement, by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister. President Milanović emphasized that “no member of the European Union has gone the way that Croatia has, and that our responsibility today and in the future is to ensure that this is not forgotten. Prime Minister Plenković expressed his gratitude to the Croatian defenders, as well as to President Franjo Tuđman for his statesmanlike leadership, on Facebook.

Milanović sent a congratulatory message and stressed the importance of ensuring peace and security

On the occasion of the Day of International Recognition of the Republic of Croatia and the Day of Peaceful Reintegration of the Croatian Danube Region, President Zoran Milanović said that it is important to guarantee the security and peace of Croatia, which is the first and main task of all those who have been entrusted with the leadership of the country, according to a statement from the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia.

On this day in 1992, the Republic of Croatia was internationally recognized. It was a confirmation of Croatian statehood by the modern world, because the state of the Croatian people existed and was recognized centuries earlier. This recognition of Croatian sovereignty and independence came after the just and defensive Homeland War. Croatia’s fight for freedom and independence was unique, no member of the European Union has gone the way that Croatia has. Our responsibility today and in the future is not to forget this, we must preserve and pass on the truth about the Homeland War to new generations, not with the aim of elevating ourselves above others, but so that everyone knows how Croatia defended itself and liberated itself, the statement states.

International recognition in such circumstances was also the moral debt of the majority of the international community, which left Croatia alone when it was most difficult. We owe nothing to anyone and we did not hold anything against anyone, because we knew then, as we know today, that only we truly care about our country and the people who live in it. In today’s world, which has changed dramatically since then, the Croatian state therefore unconditionally reserves the right to its position on every international issue and unconditionally reserves the right to decide on matters concerning our national and state interests. Guaranteeing security and peace for Croatia is the first and main task of all of us who have been entrusted with the leadership of the state, it is added.

Just as we must express our gratitude for the international recognition of Croatia on today’s memorial day, first and foremost to the Croatian defenders, we are also obliged to pay tribute to all those who contributed to the liberation of the last inch of Croatian territory without victims. The peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region in 1995 showed that in the Homeland War we only wanted to defend what is ours and live peacefully and build the country for the benefit of the Croatian people and all its citizens who consider Croatia their Homeland. And to be an equal member in international alliances with the same obligations and rights as all other member states, no less, no more, the statement reads.

Plenković thanked Croatian veterans for their sacrifice

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković congratulated the anniversary of the international recognition of the Republic of Croatia and peaceful reintegration on the X platform.

“We are grateful to the Croatian veterans for their sacrifice for our freedom and independence, as well as to President Franjo Tuđman for his statesmanlike leadership. We continue to be a responsible ally in the EU and NATO and to work dedicatedly for the betterment of Croatia,” read his post on X.

Jandroković hopes that Parliament will successfully cooperate with the newly elected president

Parliamentary Speaker Gordan Jandroković stated on Wednesday that in the context of complex global circumstances, cooperation between state institutions is important and expressed personal hope and expectation that Parliament, in accordance with the Constitution, will successfully cooperate with the newly elected president of the Republic in the future.

“It is precisely in the context of complex global circumstances that high-quality cooperation between state institutions is extremely important, which we are strengthening in this way. Therefore, I express my personal hope and expectation that Parliament, in accordance with the Croatian Constitution, will successfully cooperate with the newly elected president of the Republic of Croatia in the future,” said Jandroković at the beginning of the regular spring session of Parliament, referring to today’s memorial day – January 15, when the Day of International Recognition of Croatia and the Day of Peaceful Reintegration of the Croatian Danube Region are marked.

On this day 33 years ago, he recalled, all members of the then European Community recognized the Republic of Croatia as a sovereign and independent state, and after that strong signal of European consensus, it was followed by other important recognitions.

January 15th is a historical turning point

“Therefore, January 15th marks a historical turning point that we can consider one of the key moments in the process of creating the Croatian state,” said Jandroković, recalling the key events, people and countries that contributed to the international recognition of Croatia.

“It is no exaggeration to say that Saint Pope John Paul II was among our strongest international advocates. For that, Croatia is eternally grateful,” he said, emphasizing the role of the first Croatian president and the Croatian defenders.

“Thanks to the wise political leadership of the first Croatian president, Dr. Franjo Tuđman, and the courage of our defenders, Croatia defended its independence and sovereignty with a magnificent victory in the Homeland War,” said the Parliament Speaker, adding that commemorations like today are always an opportunity to pay tribute to their courage and the overall sacrifice of all those who contributed to our final victory in any way.

He also emphasized that history wanted Croatia’s victory to be rounded off again on January 15, this time in 1998.

On that date, he recalled, the process of returning the occupied territories of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem to the constitutional and legal order of the Republic of Croatia was completed.

The world is evidently at a turning point again

“We know that such great historical moments, which create new geopolitical realities, require exceptional courage and determination of political leadership. A particularly mature reading of the overall geostrategic circumstances is also necessary. Fortunately, we had exactly such leadership when it was most needed,” emphasized Jandroković.

He added that he was emphasizing this especially today and with the desire for young people to hear this message, because the world is evidently at a turning point again.

“Due to the goals that were outlined by President Tuđman and that we managed to achieve, Croatia welcomes today’s moment as a stable, secure and strongly internationally positioned country. We are fully integrated into the European Union and NATO, strengthened by numerous economic achievements and positive indicators,” he emphasized and said that we must not play with such a respectable achievement.

“Especially today, in a time that requires extreme sobriety, prudence and wisdom in leading the state. And from all of us who act in the public space it requires a special responsibility for the word spoken,” he emphasized.

He also told his fellow parliamentarians that there is nothing more important than the well-being of Croatian citizens and their security, and that they are obliged to constantly improve this, as well as overall Croatian resilience, including our defense and deterrence capabilities.

Source: HRT