Croatian Diplomacy Day (07/06)

Croatian Diplomacy Day (Dan hrvatske diplomatacije) is celebrated in the Republic annually on June 7, in memory of the anniversary of the first ever international recognition of Croatia as a sovereign state.

It was on June 7, 879 that Pope John III sent a letter to «dear son Branimir, Croatian Bishop Theodosius, Croatian priesthood and Croats», in which he approved and promised the defense of Croatian political strategy. With this letter, the Pope responded to Knez Branimir's previous request (Branimir, 879-892) and blessed «knez, the Croatian people and the Croatian state».

According to international law at the time, the concept of his universal domination and his right to recognize the legitimacy of governments and rulers, this act meant recognizing Knez Branimir as the legitimate ruler and Croatia as an independent state.

This event served as the reason to celebrate June 7 as the Day of Croatian Diplomacy, which can be considered, albeit an unofficial, professional holiday of diplomatic employees of the Republic. To date, Croatia, since its declaration of independence in 1991, has established and maintained diplomatic relations with 187 States.

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