July the 31st, 2024 – Croatia won its hard-earned independence over thirty years ago now, but did you know that there are four countries which STILL don’t officially recognise Croatia?
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, on January the 15th, 1992, the Republic of Croatia was recognised as an independent nation in its own right by the members of the then European Community.
The international recognition of Croatia gradually followed the declaration of independence of the Republic of Croatia on June the 25th, 1991. On the same day, neighbouring Slovenia also declared disunity, and the next day, the two bordering countries recognised each other.
In parallel, the process of disintegration of the Soviet Union was taking place, where the Baltic states and Ukraine took the lead. They had officially recognised Croatia in 1991, with Lithuania being the first to do so.
The countries that took the lead in diplomatic efforts for international recognition of Croatia were definitely the Vatican and Germany, as reported by Večernji list, while much further north, Iceland was the first country to recognise Croatia on December the 19th, 1991.
By the time January the 15th, 1992, had rolled around, the independent Republic of Croatia had been recognised by all 12 members of what was then the European Union, as well as Austria, Canada, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Malta, Norway and Switzerland.
Russia recognised Croatia a bit later in February, Japan did so in March, the USA did so in in April, and India did the same in May. By December the 31st, 1995, Croatia had been formally recognised by 124 countries.
However, despite decades having passed, and in spite of Croatia’s position as a Mediterranean tourism star, an EU, Eurozone and Schengen member, it still has not been recognised by four countries. These countries are:
Butane, Liberia, Niger and Tonga.
