By Steve Painter
Croatians around the world celebrated their country's independence on January 15, the day a range of European and other states recognised the breakaway former Yugoslav republics of Croatia and Slovenia. The European decision was crucial and followed Germany's recognition last December.
On January 15, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Canada and Australia added their names to earlier recognitions by Germany, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Ukraine and the Vatican.
The recognition confirms the emergence of the first independent Croatian state in 800 years, with the exception of an extreme rightist government that existed briefly under Nazi German patronage during World War II. Many problems lie ahead for the new Croatian state, which begins its existence with a third of its territory under occupation by the Serbian-dominated Yugoslav army, and 650,000 of its people homeless due to the war.
Both new republics are controlled by centre-right governments. Tiny Slovenia is expected to seek close ties with neighbouring Austria, and its government favours a fast-track privatisation of the old, nationalised economy on the model proposed by Harvard professor Jeffrey Sachs — a model responsible for deep economic and social problems in Poland and elsewhere in eastern Europe.
The Serbian-dominated forces appear resigned to Croatian independence, but are demanding a redrawing of Croatia's borders to exclude occupied areas, and may yet attempt to seize more territory.
Meanwhile, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman continues to give signals that he is willing to participate in a Serbian-Croatian carve-up of neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has a mixed population of Serbs, Croats and Muslims and has also voted overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum. The Muslim majority is the main force supporting a state independent of Croatia and Serbia.
Another Yugoslav republic, Macedonia, has also voted for independence. Neither Bosnia-Herzegovina nor Macedonia have achieved international recognition, supposedly due to their failure to fulfil human rights and other criteria. Macedonian authorities recently repressed attempts by the republic's Albanian minority to hold a referendum on autonomy.
Macedonian independence is opposed particularly by neighbouring Greece, which has a big Macedonian population whose existence is officially denied. Bulgaria, which also has a Macedonian minority, has recognised both Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, probably in the hope of reviving historical ties in the region.