At the time of
dissolution of Yugoslavia,
dissolution of the Soviet Union was happening as well.
Ukraine and Baltic states, first of them being
Lithuania, recognised Croatia in 1991. However, Ukraine was at the time only partially recognised. Despite that, Ukraine has been the first UN member state to recognise Croatia. The international community did not immediately recognise the dissolution of Yugoslavia or the independence of its constituent republics, and during 1991 the
Croatian War of Independence started. Two countries that prevailed in diplomatic efforts for the international recognition of Croatia were the
Holy See and
Germany. Vatican diplomacy, as the world's first, announced on October 3, 1991 that it was working on the Croatian international recognition.
Iceland recognised Croatian independence on 19 December 1991. On the same day, Germany announced its intention to recognise Croatia which was to come into effect on 15 January 1992.
Italy,
Sweden and the Holy See also announced their intention of recognition. Holy See recognised Croatia on 13 January, and
San Marino on 14 January 1992. On 15 January 1992, Croatia was recognised by all 12 members of the
European Economic Community (the predecessor of the
European Union) as well as by
Austria,
Canada,
Bulgaria,
Hungary,
Poland,
Malta,
Norway and
Switzerland. By the end of January 1992, Croatia was recognised by 44 countries. Therefore, 15 January is celebrated in Croatia as the
Day of International Recognition.
Russia recognised Croatia in February,
Japan in March, the
United States in April, and
India in May 1992. At the session of the
United Nations General Assembly held on 22 May 1992, which was chaired by Saudi ambassador Sinan Shihabi, Croatia was, alongside Slovenia and
Bosnia and Herzegovina, admitted to the membership of the United Nations. Croatia's UN delegation was led by the Croatian President
Franjo Tuđman. After a solemn session, United Nations Secretary-General
Boutros Boutros Ghali sent delegations from the new UN members states to the main entrance of the
UN headquarters, where Croatian, Slovenian and Bosnian-Herzegovinian flags were erected on the masts. Many diplomats and thousands of Croatian emigrants attended flag hoisting ceremony. By 31 December 1995, Croatia was recognised by 124 countries. On 9 September 1995, Croatia and
FR Yugoslavia concluded a Mutual Reconciliation Agreement which included mutual recognition, and established diplomatic relations on 23 August 1996. Among them are all
G20 member states that recognized Croatia. ==Chronology==