Croatia marks 20 years of independence

Croatia will today mark the 20th anniversary since the country was internationally recognized as an independent state. Top state officials will attend the central celebration at Petar Preradovic Square in Zagreb. Croatia marks 20 years of independence According to announcements, Croatia’s President Ivo Josipovic, parliament Speaker Boris Sprem, Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic will address the gathered citizens. Croatia’s independence was recognized by then 12 European Community member states on January 15, 1992. Croatia established diplomatic relations with Germany the same day. Germany and Vatican played an important role in the recognition process and encouraged the other 11 European Community members to recognize Croatia’s independence. “Croatia had problems with democratic standards, war crimes and privatization in the beginning but it became better in time,” Josipovic has stated. He also added that Croatia could have become an EU member sooner if reforms had been done earlier, but said that an enormous effort had been made in the previous several years and that numerous laws had been changed and that the country was tackling corruption. When asked what the EU accession meant for Croatia, the president said that it would mark a new beginning and show all Euro-skeptics and Europhiles that the EU “is neither paradise nor hell”. A view of Zagreb Tanjug

Croatia marks 20 years of independence

According to announcements, Croatia’s President Ivo Josipović, parliament Speaker Boris Šprem, Prime Minister Zoran Milanović and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić will address the gathered citizens.

Croatia’s independence was recognized by then 12 European Community member states on January 15, 1992. Croatia established diplomatic relations with Germany the same day. Germany and Vatican played an important role in the recognition process and encouraged the other 11 European Community members to recognize Croatia’s independence.

“Croatia had problems with democratic standards, war crimes and privatization in the beginning but it became better in time,” Josipović has stated.

He also added that Croatia could have become an EU member sooner if reforms had been done earlier, but said that an enormous effort had been made in the previous several years and that numerous laws had been changed and that the country was tackling corruption.

When asked what the EU accession meant for Croatia, the president said that it would mark a new beginning and show all Euro-skeptics and Europhiles that the EU “is neither paradise nor hell”.