croatian independence referendum croatia held independence referendum following croatian parliamentary elections rise ethnic tensions led breakup yugoslavia percent turnout voters approved referendum percent favor independence subsequently croatia declared independence dissolution association yugoslavia june introduced month decision urged agreement war croatia escalated october severed remaining ties yugoslavia countries granted croatia diplomatic recognition croatia admitted united_nations background world war croatia party socialist federal unit croatia ruled communists enjoyed degree autonomy yugoslav federation group croatian authors published declaration status croatian literary language demanding greater autonomy croatian language declaration contributed national movement seeking greater civil rights yugoslav economy culminating croatian spring suppressed yugoslav leadership yugoslav constitution gave increased autonomy federal units essentially fulfilling goal providing legal basis independence constituents 1980s political situation yugoslavia deteriorated national tension montenegro january communist_party fragmented national lines croatian faction demanding federation year multi party elections held croatia win resulting nationalist tensions croatian politicians local serbs seized control inhabited territory setting road blocks voting areas autonomous autonomous soon unite internationally republic serbian intent achieving independence croatia referendum declaration independence april decided hold independence referendum decision published official gazette official referendum offered options croatia sovereign independent state cultural autonomy civil rights serbs minorities croatia free form association sovereign states yugoslav second croatia remain yugoslavia unified federal state local authorities called boycott vote largely followed referendum held polling stations voters given ballots blue red single referendum option allowing use ballots referendum question proposing independence croatia presented blue ballot passed favor invalid blank votes second referendum question proposing croatia remain yugoslavia declined votes favor invalid votes turnout croatia subsequently declared independence dissolved croatian association yugoslavia june urged croatian authorities place month decision croatia agreed freeze independence declaration months initially tensions nonetheless croatian war independence escalated october eve attacked main government building october expired severed remaining ties yugoslavia particular session parliament held building avenue security concerns provoked recent yugoslav air raid specifically feared attack parliament building october celebrated croatia independence day recognition set august provide legal advice criteria diplomatic recognition yugoslav late commission stated things yugoslavia process dissolution internal boundaries yugoslav altered freely agreed factors preservation croatia pre war borders defined commissions yugoslav federal constitutional amendments granting sovereign rights exercised federal units federation authority specifically transferred constitution germany advocated quick recognition croatia stating wanted stop ongoing violence inhabited areas opposed france united_kingdom netherlands countries agreed pursue common approach avoid actions october days confirmed declaration independence decided postpone decision recognize croatia months deciding recognize croatian independence months war ended deadline expired germany presented decision recognize croatia policy duty position supported italy denmark france attempted prevent recognition drafting united_nations resolution requesting actions situation backed debate december germany appeared determined resolution december formally agreed grant croatia diplomatic recognition january relying opinion committee ruled croatia independence recognized immediately new croatian constitution provide protection minorities required response president gave written assurances deficit formally declared separation croatia december independence recognized internationally december yugoslav authorities announced plans smaller state include territory captured croatia plan rejected croatia recognized independent state june declared independence day croatia lithuania followed july ukraine iceland germany december countries granted croatia recognition january united_nations admitted aftermath public holiday january marked day croatia won international recognition croatian media politicians day 10th anniversary commemorative coin period following declaration independence war escalated fighting january led significant reduction violence war effectively ended august decisive victory croatia result present day borders croatia established remaining held areas restored croatia agreement november process concluded january
Croatian independence referendum, 1991