Observed by Croatia Frequency annual | Date 8 October | |
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Significance The day when the Croatian Parliament cut all relations with the former Yugoslavia Celebrations Laying of wreaths, banquets Next time 8 October 2017 (2017-10-08) | ||
Croatian Independence Day (Croatian: Dan neovisnosti) is a national public holiday marked yearly on 8 October that celebrates the unanimous decision of the Croatian Parliament - Sabor to terminate the link between Croatia and SFR Yugoslavia.
Contents
History
The Croatian referendum on independence was held in May 1991, with 93% of voters supporting the independence. On 25 June the Croatian parliament(Croatian: Sabor) proclaimed the Croatian independence. Seven days later, on 7 July, Croatia as well as Slovenia signed the Brioni Declaration in which the two countries agreed to suspend all declarations and acts passed by the Croatian and Slovenian parliaments related to those states' secession from Yugoslavia for a period of three months. During that time the Croatian War of Independence started.
On 8 October, the Sabor decided to end relations with Yugoslavia, in the Decision on the termination of the state and legal ties with other republics and provinces of Yugoslavia. That session was not held in the House of Parliament but instead in the basement of an INA building, because of the possibility of the repeat of an incident such as the bombing of Banski dvori.
Holiday
The Independence Day was implemented by the Ivica Račan's government in 2001. It was celebrated for the first time in 2002. Statehood Day is commemorated on 25 June.