Croatia on Saturday marks the 19th anniversary of its international recognition, remembering 15 January 1992 when 12 European Union member-states recognised it as an independent and sovereign country.
International recognition came when nearly one third of Croatia's territory was held by Serb rebels supported by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA).
Croatia established its constitutional and legal order throughout its territory only six years later, after the completion of the peaceful reintegration of its eastern Slavonia and Danube River regions.
The 12 EU member states were Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Untied Kingdom, Greece, Portugal and Spain.
In 1991 Croatia had already been recognised by Slovenia on 26 June, Lithuania on 30 July, Ukraine on 11 December, Latvia on 14 December, and Estonia on 31 December, but those countries themselves were not internationally recognised at the time.
Germany recognised Croatia on December 19, 1991, but decided to make its decision effective on 15 January 1992, together with the other EU members, so the first internationally recognised country that recognised Croatia's independence was Iceland (19 December 1991)
Two days before the EU states, the Holy See recognised Croatia, and San Marino did it on 14 January.
The 15th of January 1992 saw Croatia recognised also by Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Hungary, Malta, Poland, and Switzerland.
On 22 May 1992, Croatia was admitted to the United Nations, thus becoming a full member of the international community.
