Celebration of 33rd anniversary of Croatia’s international recognition

Organized by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Croatian Diplomatic Club, a ceremony marking the 33rd anniversary of the international recognition of the Republic of Croatia was held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at the National and University Library in Zagreb. The event brought together numerous distinguished guests, members of the diplomatic corps, and other invitees.
 
The State Secretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Frano Matušić, addressed the attendees, emphasizing that this day marks two anniversaries: the Day of the International Recognition of the Republic of Croatia and the Day of the Peaceful Reintegration of the Croatian Danube Region. “Thirty-three years ago, Croatian diplomacy demonstrated its extensive strength and readiness during the challenging, yet glorious and victorious 1990s. January 15 serves as a reminder of the numerous successes achieved through the joint efforts of Croatian leadership, diplomacy, defenders, and all participants in the Homeland War. The Republic of Croatia has traversed a thorny but righteous path toward independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty, and international affirmation,” Matušić stated.
 
Speaking further on Croatia's international recognition, he noted that on January 15, 1992, all twelve member states of the then-European Community recognized Croatia. By the end of January 1992, 44 countries had followed suit, with the number continuing to grow in subsequent months. “The peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube Region on January 15, 1998, marked the completion of the return of the occupied areas of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Syrmia to the constitutional and legal framework of the Republic of Croatia. Through the exhaustive efforts of the state leadership and Croatian diplomacy at the time, supported by the great successes of the military-police operations Flash (Bljesak) and Storm (Oluja), conditions were created for the return of Croatian territories and the establishment of stable and peaceful life throughout the country,” Matušić highlighted.
 
As part of the event, attendees had the opportunity to listen to a lecture titled “The Value of Information in the 21st Century - Examples from Science, Medicine, Governance, and Media.” The lecture was delivered by Professor Igor Rudan, a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, who spoke about the importance of understanding the value of information through examples from various fields, including science, medicine, governance, and others.

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