ZAGREB, 25 June 2022 - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Saturday issued their messages commemorating 25 June 1991 when the Croatian Parliament passed a declaration proclaiming the sovereignty and independence of Croatia.

On behalf of the Parliament and his own behalf, Jandroković sent his best wishes to the Croatians on Independence Day.

Plenković said in his message that this day was an occasion to remember all the achievements in the past and underscored that "we together continue to be committed to working for the well-being, prosperity and security of our homeland."

25 June is a memorial day in Croatia marking the historic decision of the Sabor of 25 June 1991 to initiate the process of disassociation and declare the independence of Croatia from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

ZAGREB, 26 June 2021 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković attended a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence in Ljubljana on Friday, and in his speech he pointed out the ties between the two nations in history and at the time of their independence from Yugoslavia 30 years ago.

"Croatia and Slovenia are two friendly countries, and Croats and Slovenes are two friendly peoples. What divides us is a trifle compared to what binds us together," Plenković said, congratulating Slovenia on the 30 years of independence.

He said that on the same day in 1991 the parliaments of Slovenia and Croatia had taken crucial decisions that led to the independence of the two countries. He noted that after the fall of the Berlin Wall, other countries had also become independent, but that Croatia and Slovenia did not gain their independence peacefully. 

"Both our countries were the victims of military aggression, we both know what war is like," Plenković said. This fact binds Croatia and Slovenia even today as they both know what was happening then, he added.

Plenković said he hoped that the Slovenian presidency of the European Union in the second half of the year would be successful and that he was sure that Slovenia would make a significant contribution to this process with its knowledge and creativity. He stressed that Slovenia can count on Croatia as a partner and friend in this process.

The ceremony was also attended by the Austrian Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the foreign ministers of Italy and Portugal, and EU Council President Charles Michel.

In his address, Slovenian President Borut Pahor called for unity in diversity, for an end to political quarrels and for achieving "a third consensus" on how Slovenia should be developing over the next 30 years. He said that his country should develop through a smart and green strategy by strengthening plurality and dialogue in society. 

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ZAGREB, June 25, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday issued a message on the occasion of Independence Day, a memorial day marking the historic decision of the Croatian parliament for Croatia to separate from other Yugoslav republics.

"This year we observe Independence Day as a memorial day commemorating the Croatian parliament's historic decision, the adoption of the constitutional decision on Croatia's sovereignty and independence, and the declaration on Croatia's sovereignty and independence, which confirmed the will of the Croatian people to establish an independent state," Plenkovic said in his message.

Recalling the Great Serbian aggression that stood in the way of the country's independence and international recognition and Croatian people's sacrifice for its freedom and independence, Plenkovic expressed gratitude to all Croatian defenders and their families, noting that Croatia today was a society based on patriotism and universal values of freedom, democracy, solidarity, rule of law and social equity.

Noting that Croatia was successfully completing its EU presidency, Plenkovic said that the country had dealt, in the best way possible, with a number of extraordinary situations during its presidency, mentioning in that context the coronavirus pandemic.

He recalled that his government had introduced economic measures to support the private sector and help save more than half a million jobs and 100,000 businesses.

Plenkovic said the government would continue adopting measures to protect the lives and health of all citizens, ensure the country's economic recovery, and continue implementing the necessary reforms to improve citizens' living standards.