Statement by the President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović on the Occasion of the Day of International Recognition of the Republic of Croatia and the Day of Peaceful Integration of the Croatian Danube Region

“Today we are marking the Day of International Recognition of the Republic of Croatia and the Day of Peaceful Integration of the Croatian Danube Region. This memorial day commemorates two important dates from recent Croatian history that actually summarize the key goal of the defensive and liberation Homeland War: that Croatia be a sovereign,  independent and internationally recognized state in which all the people who consider it its homeland will live in peace and security.

This goal has been achieved with the great sacrifices of Croatian defenders, to whom we owe lasting gratitude, and with the help of only a few friends in the international community, most of whom had long doubted Croatia’s right to statehood. For the Croatian people there was and is no doubt: Croatian state law is deeply rooted in the distant past and has never been interrupted despite the misfortunes and troubles that have accompanied Croatia throughout history. The recognition of independence was only a modern confirmation of Croatian state law.

Let the troubles of the past be our best lesson today, so that they do not repeat themselves. The world in which there was misunderstanding for Croatia has been replaced by a world in which force and the right of the stronger rule. Just as we were together and united then in our desire to achieve our independent state, so today we must be united in our efforts to preserve sovereignty in decision-making, to protect our interests and to ensure peace and security for everyone in Croatia. This is the duty of all of us, and especially of the elected state officials and institutions that the Croatian people have entrusted with leading Croatia.”