Misplaced Pages

#311688

64-584: The siege of Dubrovnik and the associated blockade running operations of the squadron took place from September 1991 until May 1992, during the peak of the fighting in the Croatian War of Independence. The commencement of the siege preceded the declaration of Croatian independence on 8 October 1991. In early 1992, the Dubrovnik area saw fierce fighting while combat operations largely ceased elsewhere in Croatia following

128-558: A 9K11 Malyutka anti-tank missile . The unit ceased operations in 1992 as the forces besieging Dubrovnik had been defeated. Sveti Vlaho was the second vessel used by the Croatian Navy, preceded only by a landing craft designated DJB-103, which was brought into use eight days earlier. The squadron was disbanded on 29 December 1992. Sveti Vlaho was refloated in 2001, restored and put on exhibit in Batala Park in Dubrovnik. In May 2006,

192-781: A three-month moratorium on the decision when urged to do so by the European Community and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe . During that time the Croatian War of Independence started. On 8 October 1991, the Croatian Parliament severed all remaining ties with Yugoslavia. The Badinter Arbitration Committee had to rule on the matter. Finally, Croatian independence was internationally recognized in January 1992, when both

256-679: A World War II Chetnik leader. Years later, Croatian Serb leader Milan Babić testified that Momčilo Đujić had financially supported the Serbs in Croatia in the 1990s. Conversely, Franjo Tuđman made international visits during the late 1980s to garner support from the Croatian diaspora for the Croatian national cause. In mid-1989, political parties other than the Communist Party were first allowed, starting

320-568: A fear of a civil war in Yugoslavia. By mid-1991, the Croatian War of Independence had already started. Serb-controlled areas of Croatia were part of the three "Serb Autonomous Oblasts" later known as the Republic of Serbian Krajina , bulk of which would not be under Croatian control until 1995, and the remaining parts in 1998. Croatia was first recognized as an independent state on 26 June 1991 by Slovenia , which declared its own independence on

384-521: A part of the Adriatic Sea between the Olipa and Koločep islands and the mainland opposite of them. There are two settlements on the island called Gornje Čelo and Donje Čelo. Both are situated in their respective coves and connected with a 1.5-kilometre (0.9-mile) paved road. Koločep is car free but many paths and walkways criss-cross the island. Koločep has an average of 215 sunny days a year. Its climate

448-552: A purge of Serbs employed in public administration, especially the police. The Serbs of Croatia held a disproportionate number of official posts: in 1984, 22.6% of the members of the League of Communists of Croatia and 17.7% of appointed officials in Croatia were Serbs, including 28-31% in the Ministry of the Interior (the police). Whereas, in 1981, they represented 11.5% and in 1991, 12.2% of

512-511: A single country. Prominent members of the SDS were Milan Babić and Milan Martić , both of whom later became high-ranking RSK officials. During his later trial, Babić would testify that there was a media campaign directed from Belgrade that portrayed the Serbs in Croatia as being threatened with genocide by the Croat majority and that he fell prey to this propaganda. On 4 March 1990, a meeting of 50,000 Serbs

576-707: A smaller state, which could include the territory captured from Croatia during the war. This plan was rejected by the UN General Assembly . Three more countries decided to recognize Croatia before the EEC-scheduled date of January 15: Estonia , the Holy See , and San Marino . The European Economic Community finally granted Croatia diplomatic recognition on 15 January 1992, and the United Nations did so in May 1992. In

640-617: A transition from the one-party system . A number of new parties were founded in Croatia, including the Croatian Democratic Union ( Croatian : Hrvatska demokratska zajednica ) (HDZ), led by Franjo Tuđman. In January 1990, the Communist Party fragmented along national lines, with the Croatian faction demanding a looser federation. At the 14th Extraordinary Congress of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia , on 20 January 1990,

704-453: Is of a moderate Mediterranean type, and due to the isle's indented coastline and small area, the predominant climatic features throughout the island are influenced by the Adriatic . The sea moderates the air temperature considerably keeping the average monthly daytime highs above 10 °C (50 °F) in the winter time and below 27 °C (81 °F) in the summer. Clear waters surrounding

SECTION 10

#1733085360312

768-402: Is outdated" and that it "does not correspond with the interest of Serb people". The party program endorsed redrawing regional and municipal lines to reflect the ethnic composition of the areas, and asserted the right of territories with a "special ethnic composition" to become autonomous. This echoed Milošević position that internal Yugoslav borders should be redrawn to permit all Serbs to live in

832-517: Is situated at the base of a bay on the other side of Lapad, requiring a 5 kilometres (3 miles) journey by boat to the island. The island can be reached by regular ferry service Jadrolinija – the "Postira" and "Premuda" services connect the Elaphiti Islands several times throughout the day. It is a 20-minute boat ride from one port to the other (Dubrovnik–Koločep) by ferry, or 10 minutes by water taxi. The island lent its name to Koločepski Channel -

896-415: Is the southernmost inhabited island in Croatia . According to the 2021 census, its population was 231. In the 2011 census, the population of the island was 163. The island of Koločep lies at a distance of 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) from the closest point on the mainland and about the same distance from the peninsula of Lapad , further east towards the city of Dubrovnik itself. The port of Dubrovnik ( Gruž )

960-627: The 1989 coups in Vojvodina, Kosovo and Montenegro . As Slovenia and Croatia began to seek greater autonomy within the federation, including confederate status and even full independence, the nationalist ideas started to grow within the ranks of the still-ruling League of Communists. As Slobodan Milošević rose to power in Serbia, his speeches favored continuation of a unified Yugoslav state—one in which all power would be centralized in Belgrade . In March 1989,

1024-528: The Croatian Spring was suppressed by Yugoslav leadership. Still, the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution gave increased autonomy to federal units, essentially fulfilling a goal of the Croatian Spring and providing a legal basis for independence of the federative constituents. In the 1980s, the political situation in Yugoslavia deteriorated, with national tension fanned by the 1986 Serbian SANU Memorandum and

1088-465: The Erdut Agreement of November 1995, with the process concluded in January 1998. Since 2002, 8 October is celebrated as Croatia's Independence Day , while 25 June is recognized as Statehood Day . Previously, May 30, marking the day when the first democratic parliament was constituted in 1990, had been commemorated as Statehood Day. Although it is not a public holiday, 15 January is marked as

1152-660: The European Economic Community and the United Nations granted Croatia diplomatic recognition , and the country was accepted into the United Nations shortly thereafter. During the World War II period from 1941 to 1945, Croatia was established as a puppet state called the Independent State of Croatia , governed by the ultranationalist , fascist Ustaše , backed by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy within

1216-580: The Jadrolinija shipping line's Slavija , which was endeavoring to deliver humanitarian aid to the city under siege. The fleet sailed from Rijeka and made several port calls, growing to 29 vessels as it approached Dubrovnik. The convoy, accompanied by the last President of Yugoslavia Stjepan Mesić and the Prime Minister of Croatia Franjo Gregurić , was stopped and searched by the Yugoslav Navy off

1280-902: The President of Croatia replaced the President of the Presidency, in addition to other changes. The changes in the July 1990 Croatian Constitution did not relate to the status of the Serbs, which remained identical to the one granted by the 1974 Croatian Constitution (based on the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution ). Nationalist Serbs in Croatia boycotted the Sabor and seized control of Serb-inhabited territory, setting up road blocks and voting for those areas to become autonomous . The Serb "autonomous oblasts" would soon become increasingly intent on achieving independence from Croatia. After HDZ came to power, they conducted

1344-512: The Sarajevo Agreement of 2 January 1992. Sveti Vlaho , the first vessel of the squadron, sunk in late 1991, was refloated in 2001 and placed on permanent exhibition in Dubrovnik. In 2006, the squadron was collectively decorated with the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski for bravery during the Croatian War of Independence. Surviving squadron members founded a squadron association in 2011 to preserve

SECTION 20

#1733085360312

1408-545: The Badinter Commission rendered a series of ten opinions. The Commission stated, among other things, that Yugoslavia was in the process of dissolution, and that the internal boundaries of Yugoslav republics could not be altered unless freely agreed upon. Factors in the preservation of Croatia's pre-war borders were the Yugoslav federal constitutional amendments of 1971 and 1974, granting that sovereign rights were exercised by

1472-722: The Parliament, and the only parliamentary deputies missing were some from the Serb parties that had been absent since early 1991. Germany advocated quick recognition of Croatia, in order to stop ongoing violence in Serb-inhabited areas, with Helmut Kohl requesting recognition in the Bundestag on 4 September. Kohl's position was opposed by France, the United Kingdom , and the Netherlands, but

1536-785: The RSK and the Croatian Police were unable to cope with the situation, the Croatian National Guard (ZNG) was formed in May 1991. The ZNG was renamed the Croatian Army (HV) in November. The development of the Croatian armed forces was hampered by a United Nations (UN) arms embargo introduced in September. The final months of 1991 saw the fiercest fighting of the war, culminating in the Battle of

1600-550: The barracks , the Siege of Dubrovnik , and the Battle of Vukovar . Even though the Sarajevo Agreement led to a ceasefire in most areas of Croatia, the siege and fighting around Dubrovnik continued until May 1992. The Armed Boats Squadron Dubrovnik was established on 23 September 1991 as a volunteer unit of the Croatian Navy . It served during the Siege of Dubrovnik, and was a key factor in

1664-666: The basis of its request and a positive opinion of the Badinter Arbitration Commission. In its Opinion No. 5 on the specific matter of Croatian independence, the Commission ruled that Croatia's independence should not yet be recognized, because the new Croatian Constitution did not incorporate protections for minorities required by European Community. In response to this decision, the President of Croatia Franjo Tuđman wrote to Robert Badinter, giving assurances that this deficit would be remedied. Ukraine and Latvia were

1728-507: The countries agreed to pursue a common approach by following Germany's unilateral action. On 10 October, two days after the Croatian Parliament confirmed the declaration of independence, the EEC decided to postpone any decision to recognize Croatia for two months. German foreign minister Hans Dietrich Genscher later wrote that the EEC decided to recognize Croatian independence in two months if

1792-503: The crisis in Yugoslavia deepened after the adoption of amendments to the Serbian constitution that allowed the Serbian republic's government to re-assert effective power over the autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina. Up until that time, a number of political decisions were legislated from within these provinces, and they had a vote on the Yugoslav federal presidency level (six members from

1856-545: The day Croatia won international recognition by Croatian media and politicians. On the day's tenth anniversary in 2002, the Croatian National Bank minted a 25 kuna commemorative coin . Kolo%C4%8Dep Koločep ( pronounced [kɔ̂lɔtʃɛp] ; locally known as Kalamota from Italian : Calamotta ) is one of the three inhabited Elaphiti Islands situated near the city of Dubrovnik with an area of 2.44 square kilometres (0.94 square miles). Koločep

1920-569: The delegations of the republics could not agree on the main issues in the Yugoslav federation. The Croatian and Slovenian delegations demanded a looser federation, while the Serbian delegation, headed by Milošević, opposed this. As a result, the Slovenian and Croatian delegates left the Congress. Having completed the anti-bureaucratic revolution in Vojvodina, Kosovo, and Montenegro, Serbia secured four out of eight federal presidency votes in 1991, and it

1984-607: The federal units, and that the federation had only the authority specifically transferred to it by the constitution. The borders had been defined by demarcation commissions in 1947. Ultimately, France and the UK backed down during the Security Council debate on the matter on 14 December, when Germany appeared determined to defy the UN resolution. On 17 December, the EEC formally agreed to grant Croatia diplomatic recognition on 15 January 1992, on

Armed Boats Squadron Dubrovnik - Misplaced Pages Continue

2048-466: The first to react by recognizing Croatian independence in the second week of December. The following week, Iceland and Germany recognized it, on 19 December 1991, as the first western European countries to do so. In response to the decisions of the Badinter Commission, the RSK formally declared its separation from Croatia on 19 December, but its statehood and independence were not recognized internationally. On 26 December, Yugoslavia announced plans for

2112-570: The former Constitution of SR Croatia, which had also treated solely Croats as a constitutive nation, saying Croatia was "national state" for Croats, "state" for Serbs and other minorities. On 21 February 1991, Croatia declared its Constitution and laws supreme to that of the SFRY, and the Parliament enacted a formal resolution on the process of disassociation ( Croatian : razdruženje ) from SFR Yugoslavia and possible new association with other sovereign republics. Over two hundred armed incidents involving

2176-593: The heritage of the unit. The 1990 revolt of the Croatian Serbs was centred on the predominantly Serb-populated areas of the Dalmatian hinterland around the city of Knin , parts of Lika , Kordun , Banovina regions and in eastern Croatian settlements with significant Serb population, and these areas were subsequently declared by the Serbs as the Republic of Serbian Krajina (RSK). The RSK declared its intention to integrate politically with Serbia , and this action

2240-489: The island of Mljet before the squadron linked up with the convoy and escorted it to Dubrovnik. The event marked the first large delivery of aid to the city since the beginning of the siege. Sveti Vlaho , the first naval vessel to fly the flag of the Republic of Croatia in combat and the first ship of the squadron, was originally an Italian smuggling runabout that was confiscated by the authorities, fitted with armour and used by

2304-478: The island range from deep blue to turquoise aqua. The coastline has with a number of hidden coves: the Blue Cave can be accessed swimming from one such cove on the south side of the island. An area off shore where lobsters abound is another one of Koločep's features. The islands flora includes stands of tall pine and olive groves . Earliest known traces of human habitation date to the times of Ancient Greece . In

2368-560: The moratorium expired, and the Croatian Parliament severed all remaining ties with Yugoslavia. That particular session of the parliament was held in the INA building on Pavao Šubić Avenue in Zagreb due to security concerns provoked by recent Yugoslav air raid ; Specifically, it was feared that the Yugoslav Air Force might attack the parliament building. This decision was reached unanimously in

2432-413: The new Croatian Parliament held its first session. President Tuđman announced his manifesto for a new Constitution and a multitude of political, economic, and social changes, including a plan for Yugoslavia as a confederation of sovereign states. On 25 July 1990, Croatia made constitutional amendments that asserted and effected its sovereignty – the "Socialist" prefix was dropped from the country's name,

2496-399: The period following the declaration of independence, the war escalated, with the sieges of Vukovar and Dubrovnik , and fighting elsewhere, until a ceasefire of 3 January 1992 led to stabilization and a significant reduction in violence. With the end of 1991, the second Yugoslavia effectively ceased to exist as a state , with the prime minister Ante Marković and the president of

2560-560: The presidency Stjepan Mesić resigning in December 1991, and a caretaker government representing it until the country's formal dissolution in April 1992. The war effectively ended in August 1995 with a decisive victory for Croatia as a result of Operation Storm . Croatia established its present-day borders when the remaining Serb-held areas of eastern Slavonia were restored to Croatia pursuant to

2624-517: The province of Dalmatia as Croatia was hosting the 1990 European Athletics Championships in Split . On 21 December 1990, a new " Christmas Constitution " was passed, that adopted a liberal democracy . The constitution defined Croatia as "the national state of the Croatian nation and a state of members of other nations and minorities who are its citizens: Serbs... who are guaranteed equality with citizens of Croatian nationality...." The status of Serbs

Armed Boats Squadron Dubrovnik - Misplaced Pages Continue

2688-470: The rebel Serbs and Croatian police were reported between August 1990 and April 1991. On 19 May 1991, the Croatian authorities held the Croatian referendum on independence . Serb local authorities called for a boycott of the vote, which was largely followed by Croatian Serbs. In the end, a majority of Croatians endorsed independence from Yugoslavia, with a turnout of 83.56% and the two referendum questions answered positively by 93.24% and 92.18% (resp.) of

2752-456: The republics and two members from the autonomous provinces). In the Gazimestan speech , delivered on June 28, 1989, Milošević remarked on the current "battles and quarrels", saying that even though there were currently no armed battles, the possibility could not be excluded yet. The general political situation grew more tense when in 1989 Vojislav Šešelj publicly consorted with Momčilo Đujić ,

2816-543: The same day as Croatia. But by 29 June, the Croatian and Slovenian authorities agreed to a three-month moratorium on the independence declaration, in an effort to ease tensions. The Brijuni Agreement was formally signed in a meeting of the European Community Ministerial Troika, the Yugoslav, Serbian, Slovenian and Croatian authorities on 7 July. Lithuania was the sole state that recognized Croatia on 30 July. The Badinter Arbitration Committee

2880-519: The squadron founded the Armed Boat Squadron Association whose objective is to preserve the heritage of the squadron, document its contribution to the Croatian War of Independence, and render assistance to its members and other similar associations in Croatia to preserve and promote the role that Croatian soldiers played in achieving the Republic of Croatia's independence. Independence of Croatia The independence of Croatia

2944-403: The squadron in resupply and blockade-running operations. During one of these missions, while sailing back from a trip to Bol on the Croatian island of Brač , she was chased by a Yugoslav gunboat and driven aground on a beach near Babin Kuk, just 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) north of Dubrovnik. Sveti Vlaho was recovered and continued in service until 6 December 1991, when she was sunk at Gruž by

3008-415: The squadron runabouts motored more than 52,000 nautical miles (96,000 kilometres; 60,000 miles), and transported approximately 6,000 troops and civilians, about 100 wounded and 2,000 tonnes of various cargo. The unit suffered two combat fatalities. At dawn on 31 October 1991, the squadron sailed out of Dubrovnik to meet the Libertas convoy —a fleet of civilian vessels, the largest among them being

3072-472: The squadron was collectively decorated with the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski for the bravery of its members during the Croatian War of Independence; however, no individual decorations were awarded to squadron members, nor were any promoted as a result of their service. On the 15th anniversary of the arrival of the Libertas convoy in besieged Dubrovnik a celebration was held, but no squadron volunteers were invited to attend. On 11 August 2011, surviving members of

3136-489: The successful defence of the city. The unit's first commander was Lieutenant Colonel Aljoša Nikolić . Upon formation, squadron was tasked with breaching the Dubrovnik naval blockade and maintaining a route that was instrumental to delivery of materiel necessary to successfully defend the city, including food, fuel, medical supplies, arms and ammunition. The squadron also transported reinforcements arriving from other parts of Croatia and evacuated wounded out of Dubrovnik, and

3200-399: The territory of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia . From 1945 it became a Socialist federal unit of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , a one-party state run by the League of Communists of Croatia created at the end of World War II in Yugoslavia . Croatia enjoyed a degree of autonomy within the Yugoslav federation. At the turn of the 1970s, a Croatian national protest movement called

3264-430: The times of the Republic of Ragusa , Koločep was an important shipbuilding site. Two members of Christopher Columbus ’ crew on the Santa Maria were sailors from the island. Archaeological remnants of ancient European conquerors have been found on the island: from the ancient times of Greece and Rome to the Napoleonic times. The island has seven pre-Romanesque churches dating back to the times of Croatian kings, from

SECTION 50

#1733085360312

3328-470: The total number of votes. On 25 June 1991, the country declared its independence from the SFRY, finalizing its effort to end its status as a constituent republic. That decision of the parliament decision was partially boycotted by left-wing party deputies. The European Economic Community and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe immediately urged both Croatia and Slovenia that they would not be recognized as independent states because of

3392-446: The total population of Croatia. An even greater proportion of those posts had been held by Serbs in Croatia earlier on, which created a perception that the Serbs were guardians of the communist regime. President Tuđman made several clumsy remarks — such as the one from an 16 April 1990 speech that he was 'glad that his wife is not a Serb' that the Croatian historian Ante Nazor has described as something taken out of context. All this

3456-432: The vessels of the squadron were relatively fast, the fastest among them being capable of achieving 55 knots (102 kilometres per hour; 63 miles per hour). The squadron typically deployed its craft in pairs or threes, sailing as close as possible to the Yugoslav Navy vessels when passing Koločep island to reach relative safety of the Rijeka Dubrovačka inlet, in order to utilize blind spots of naval guns. During its existence,

3520-449: The war had not ended by then. With the war still ongoing when the deadline expired, Germany presented its decision to recognize Croatia as its policy and duty. Germany's position was supported by Italy and Denmark. France and the UK attempted to prevent German recognition by drafting a United Nations resolution requesting that no country take unilateral actions which could worsen the situation in Yugoslavia. Starting in late November 1991,

3584-524: The war. The political crisis escalated when the Serb-populated areas attempted to form an enclave called Serbian Krajina which intended to separate from Croatia if Croatia itself attempted to separate from Yugoslavia. The Serb leadership in Krajina refused to recognize the government of the Republic of Croatia as having sovereignty over them. The crisis began in August 1990 with the Log Revolution as Croatian Serbs cut down trees and used them to block roads. This hampered Croatian tourism and caused alarm in

3648-422: Was a lifeline for the besieged troops and civilian population. Its operations began on 23 September 1991, when the runabout Sveti Vlaho (English: Saint Blaise ) undertook its first voyage. The squadron consisted of 23 craft of various sizes and 117 volunteers. Craft armaments were light—the Sveti Vlaho had 6-millimetre (0.24 in) steel plate armour as a protection and a Bren light machine gun . All

3712-431: Was a process started with the changes in the political system and the constitutional changes in 1990 that transformed the Socialist Republic of Croatia into the Republic of Croatia , which in turn proclaimed the Christmas Constitution , and held the 1991 Croatian independence referendum . After the country formally declared independence in June 1991 and the dissolution of its association with Yugoslavia , it introduced

3776-413: Was able to heavily influence decision-making at the federal level, because unfavorable decisions could be blocked; this rendered the governing body ineffective. This situation led to objections from other republics and calls for reform of the Yugoslav Federation. In February 1990, Jovan Rašković founded the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) in Knin . Its program stated that the "regional division of Croatia

3840-406: Was changed from an explicitly mentioned nation ( narod ) to a nation listed together with minorities ( narodi i manjine ). This constitutional change was also read by the majority of Serb politicians as taking away some of the rights that the Serbs had been granted by the previous Socialist constitution, and it fuelled extremism among the Serbs of Croatia. This was not based on the literal reading of

3904-417: Was deliberately distorted by Milošević's media in order to artificially spark fear that any form of an independent Croatia is a new " ustashe state": in one instance, TV Belgrade showed Tuđman shaking hands with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl , accusing them of plotting to impose "a Fourth Reich". The new Tuđman government was nationalistic and insensitive towards Serbs, but did not pose a threat to them before

SECTION 60

#1733085360312

3968-568: Was held at Petrova Gora . People at the rally shouted negative remarks aimed at Tuđman, chanted "This is Serbia", and expressed support for Milošević. In late April and early May 1990, the first multi-party elections were held in Croatia, with Franjo Tuđman 's win resulting in further nationalist tensions. A tense atmosphere prevailed in 1990: on 13 May 1990, a football game was held in Zagreb between Zagreb 's Dinamo team and Belgrade's Crvena Zvezda team. The game erupted into violence between football fans and police. On 30 May 1990,

4032-446: Was set up by the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community (EEC) on 27 August 1991 to provide legal advice and criteria for recognition to former Yugoslav republics. The five-member commission consisted of presidents of constitutional courts in the EEC. On 7 October, the eve of expiration of the moratorium, the Yugoslav Air Force attacked Banski dvori , the main government building in Zagreb . On 8 October 1991,

4096-403: Was viewed by the Government of Croatia as a rebellion. By March 1991, the conflict had escalated to war—the Croatian War of Independence . In June 1991, Croatia declared its independence as Yugoslavia disintegrated . This was followed by a three-month moratorium on the decision, but the decision came into effect on 8 October. As the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) increasingly supported

#311688