.png)
Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković greeted Croatian citizens in the country and abroad on the occasion of Independence Day, calling on lawmakers to turn to topics of the future and challenges of the modern era.
"By marking Independence Day we remember 25 June 1991 when the Croatian Parliament adopted two historic decisions: the Constitutional decision on Croatia's sovereignty and independence, and the Declaration of Croatia's sovereignty and independence. After that, all foreign representatives accredited in Zagreb were asked to recognise the Croatian state. These decisions represented the constitutional basis for independence on which the sovereign Croatian state emerged," Jandroković recalled in his address to Parliament.
With that act Croatia launched the process of disassociation with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) and other Yugoslav republics and called for international recognition.
He added that as progress was not being made in agreement on disassociation with the former republics, the then president Franjo Tuđman called for a referendum, which was held on 19 May 1991.
More than 93% of Croatians voted for a sovereign and independent country at that referendum, he said and added that consequently on 25 June 1991, the Croatian Sabor adopted those two historic decisions.
He added that after the unsuccessful attempts to resolve the crisis peacefully and with the mediation of the international community, when a moratorium on the Constitutional decision expired, Yugoslav Air Force planes bombed Government House. It was obvious then that it would not be possible for Croatia to achieve its independence peacefully and that it would have to fight for freedom in the Homeland War, he underscored.
Our obligation to keep the values of the Homeland War
The Homeland War and its values are the foundation of contemporary Croatia and it is our obligation to keep those values and to leave them as a legacy for future generations, he added.
In the past 30 years we have achieved great strategic objectives that were defined when creating the modern Croatian state. They include membership of NATO and the European Union which have brought new prospects and opportunities, he added.
"We are facing new challenges. By building the Pelješac Bridge we will connect Croatian territory. We will continue preparations to join the Schengen Area and euro area, complete the procurement of multi-purpose Rafale fighter jets and accelerate the reforms of the judiciary, state administration, health and social welfare, which will strengthen our security, protect our borders and ensure economic progress," Jandroković said.
In light of a fast-changing world we can build Croatia only by joint action and mutual respect, keeping in mind the improvement of living standards for the Croatian people, he said.