Croatia, Serbia Establish Ties

The two countries, which fought a war in 1991, recognised each other in a deal signed on August 23 which called for diplomatic relations within 15 days.

Under the exchange of notes, the two countries' representative offices in each other's capital are upgraded to embassies.

The head of the Yugoslav office office in Zagreb, Veljko Knezevic, handed a note to Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic, the ministry said in a statement.

In Belgrade, at the same time, Yugoslav Deputy Foreign Minister Radoslav Bulajic was given a note by the head of the Croatian office there, Zvonimir Markovic.

Zagreb declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and fought a war with the Serb-dominated federal army plus Croatian Serbs opposing independence.

 

The rump Yugoslavia comprises Serbia and its tiny partner Montenegro.