Page 47 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

THE HIST OR Y OF CRO A TIA  45

Soviet Union led Marshal Tito to employ a
policy of mediation and neutrality between
the opposing inter national factions of the
Cold War. Tito held together the country’s
various ethnic groups (with great difficulty)
and these ties showed signs of strain
after he died in 1980. The reform of the
constitution, aimed at weakening Serbia’s
dominance over the other states, did not
alter the resentment of the Croats and Bombed houses in Vukovar during the war of 1991–95
Slovenes who sought support for opposition
to the regime in religion and nationalism. The Independent State of
Croatia
The Dissolution of the Socialist Five years later the land occupied by
Republic of Yugoslavia the Serbs was liberated by the Croatian
The fall of the Berlin Wall (November 1989) army and the Erdut Agreement (1995)
and the break-up of the Soviet Union at the sanctioned reunification, although the
end of 1991 convinced the governments of disputed territories (Slavonia and Krajina)
Slovenia, Croatia (under its first president, were overseen by the UN until 1998.
Franjo Tuđman) and Macedonia that they Croatia joined the World Trade
should dissolve federal ties and proclaim Organization and elections held in
independence, after a referendum which December 2000 voted in a coalition
was won by a wide margin by the of democratic parties. As a result steps
secessionists (May 1991). However, a were taken for Croatia’s entry into the
Serb faction, supported by the Yugoslav European Union. In March 2002, the
People’s Army (JNA) from Belgrade, Italian bank, UniCredito, bought the
stirred up rebellion and war broke out. important Croatian bank, the Zagrebačka
In Slovenia the war lasted only ten days, Bank, bringing it into the European circuit.
but the battle in Croatia was prolonged. However, in 2005, after failing to hand
Under the pretext of defending over an indicted general, Croatia
the Serbs, parts of Slavonia and was accused of not co-operating
Baranja were occupied by the fully with the international war
JNA, and in Krajina the Serbian crimes tribunal at the Hague
Republic of Krajina was created and negotiations for entry to
with Knin as its capital. A fifth the EU stalled. Soon after, the
of Croatia fell to Serb soldiers, general was captured and talks
and the city of Dubrovnik resumed, and eventually, Croatia
was held under a seven- Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, elected joined the European Union on
month siege. president in 2015 1 July 2013.

2000 On 7 2009 The accession
1980 President Tito 1998 The restitution February Stipe of Croatia to NATO
dies and conflict of Slavonia and Mesić is elected
between the various Krajina reunites a President of the 2013 Croatia joins
nationalities begins now free Croatia Republic EU on 1 July
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

1991 Slovenia and Croatia abandon 1995 Erdut Agreement: 2015 Kolinda Grabar-
Republic, Croatian land inhabited by Serbs Slavonia and Krajina are Kitarović is elected Croatia’s
is occupied by Yugoslav People’s Army: administered by the first woman president
war between Serbia and Croatia begins United Nations
2010 Ivo Josipović elected President

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