"Over the past years Croatia has achieved key strategic goals, notably membership of NATO and the European Union, and it has been building a modern and inclusive democratic society respecting the highest values of western democracies. Encouraged by positive economic trends and results, the government is turned to the future and continues implementing structural reforms in order to improve citizens' living standards and contribute to building a prosperous Croatia," the PM says in the message.
"We remember with pride the unity of the Croatian people and its determination to accomplish its centuries-long dream of a free and independent state," Plenkovic says in the message, noting that 15 January 1992 is a "historic day", when Croatia's place among free nations was recognised.
The international recognition of Croatia by the then European Community was, he adds, a turning point that facilitated the establishment of diplomatic relations between Croatia and numerous countries around the world and paved the way to the country's admission to the United Nations on 22 May 1992.
"Owing to the political vision and statesmanly wisdom of the first Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, the heroic sacrifice of Croatian defenders and the skillfulness of Croatian diplomats, the Croatian people won its freedom despite the aggression of the Milosevic regime and unfavourable international circumstances," the PM said.
As for the 20th anniversary of the peaceful reintegration of the Danube region, Plenkovic said that it was one of the most successful peace operations in the history of the United Nations, which completed Croatia's territorial integrity.
"The peaceful restoration of Croatia's constitutional order in the Danube region created foundations for the process of reconciliation, coexistence and integration, which may serve as a model of peaceful conflict-resolution in other similar situations."
Text: Hina