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Croatia–Spain relations refer to the bilateral relationship between Croatia and Spain. Diplomatic relations among two countries were established on March 9, 1992 following Croatia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia.
Contents
- History
- During Spanish Civil War
- Economic cooperation
- Croatian officials main visits to Spain
- Spanish officials main visits to Croatia
- References
Croatia has an embassy in Madrid and honorary consulates in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Pamplona and Seville. Spain has an embassy in Zagreb and consulate in Dubrovnik. The two nations enjoy largely positive relations. Both countries are predominantly Catholic.
Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
History
Croatia–Spain relations date far back into history, at least as early as the 16th century. During 1516-18 Uskok War, Spanish Empire officially sided with the Kingdom of Croatia against Venice and Ottoman Empire.
During Spanish Civil War
Many Croats participated in Spanish Civil War, mostly on the side of Republicans, including Josip Broz Tito who later become president of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Croatian public was very sensitive about the Spanish Civil War which was well covered in the Croatian media and political arena. Youth members of the Party of Rights sent a telegram of support to Francisco Franco, a Nationalist, while League of Communists of Yugoslavia began to send volunteers to help Republicans. Party or Catholic media, such as Hrvatska straža (right wing) or Proleter (left wing), were bringing information in accordance with their ideology. While Hrvatska straža was writing daily about the persecution of religion and crimes committed by Republicans and was calling for "a joint fight against the red danger and ghosts of atheism", Proleter was writing about crimes committed by Nationalists and was calling for "an international fight against the scourge of fascism" and was denouncing the church as co-responsible for crimes. Left wing press was constantly emphasizing the importance of fight for national rights of Catalans, Basques and others, comparing it with bad status of Croats in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, while right wing (Ustaše) press, while fighting against Serbian unitarianism within Kingdom of Yugoslavia, hasn't paid much attention to aspirations of Catalans and Basques in Spain. Catholic Church was constantly emphasizing the anti-religious and anti-clerical character of Republicans, depicted Franco as protector of the faith, Church and the Christian tradition.
After the Second World War and the destruction of Nazi puppet state, so-called Independent State of Croatia, Spain, led by Francisco Franco, accapted a lot of those which fled from the liberated territory, and newly founded Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including dictator Ante Pavelić and his family.
Spain provided strong support to the Croatian ascension to the EU. On July 1, 2013, Spain welcomed Croatian EU ascension by hanging festive red cravat, invented by Croats, on the Cibeles Palace.
Economic cooperation
In 2013 Croatia exported €40.800.000 worth goods to Spain and imported from it €234.300.000 worth goods.