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![[Croatia]](../images/h/hr.gif)
by Carlos Esparza, 21 January 2001
Flag adopted 21 December 1990, coat
of arms adopted 21 December 1990.
Other Croatian pages in FOTW:
See also:
Other Sites:
Basically, the situation about croatian flags is like this:
Zeljko Heimer, 9 March 1997
The Croatian flag carried in front of the team at Sydney 2000
Olympic games ceremony, was not quite as it should be - the coat
of arms was moved a bit too much down, the space between the
crest and shield was white (should be "transparent",
and therefore red). The shield should be positioned so that four
rows of squares come into white stripe, and only the fifth enters
the blue field. The shield should not enter the red field at all,
only the crest, that should be fimbriated with white and red (as
well as the shield, in fact). However, this error is very common
among foreign flag manufacturers.
The flag was very clearly visible in one moment when the director
of the coverage choosed to show what's being done white the flags
when the athletes reach their final point - they were gathered on
the stage, and the moment of setting of the Croatian flag was
shown.
Zeljko Heimer, 15 September 2000
Today Croatia is celebrating 10 years since the EU recognized
Croatian independence. Few states recognized Croatia even before
that date e.g. (Vatican, Ukraine, Iceland), others followed soon
(e.g. USA recognition came in April 1992), however, 15 January
1992 is the day generally accepted as the date of the
international recognition of Croatia.
In May 1992 Croatia was admited to United Nations. As I was
reminded in a documentary I just saw on TV, the Croatian flag was
first hoisted ceremoniously infront of the UN HQ in New York on
22 May 1992. (At the same time B&H white flags w/lilies was
also hoisted for the first time there.)
Zeljko Heimer, 15 January 2002
After five years, I saw the flag with the red star on the news
on the national TV. It was displayed on a celebration of some
partisan (anti-fascist) unit in Istria. Beside this flag there
was also the Italian flag with a red star (see the flag of Italian minority in Yugoslavia).
It is the first time since the declaration of independence that
this flag is displayed publicly. (Maybe to mention, government
officials and high army commanders were there, so it wasn't any
kind of "rebellions" or demonstrations against the
current government).
I have nothing against it, moreover, I think it is (one of the)
historical Croatian flags, and should be respected as any other
historical flag. Many fine Croatians fought under it, for the
freedom of their homeland.
Zeljko Heimer, 13 November 1995
I have seen rarely that the coat of arms is rotated for 90
degrees, when the flag is hanging vertically, but this is not
usual.
If there is need of a "short" flag, there is a tendency
to "shorten" the horizontal flag so that instead of
being 1:2, it becomes e.g. 5:3, as it was on the parade on 30 May
1995 (Statehood Day).
Zeljko Heimer, 16 September 1995
Not really, but possibly in some time... Recently a discussion
in newspapers were (re)introduced about the need of the flag
change. Now the discussion was induced by an article in
"Vecernji list" (Zagreb newspapers) transmiting opinion
of one of the presidential candidates (after the elections) dr.
Slaven Letica. He questioned constitutionality of the current
coat of arms (therefore the flag, too) regarding the
"zoo" (the crest) above the shield. He was answered by
several historians and law experts, claiming that he is wrong in
that assumption, and that there is no question of
constitutionality, but however, the Pandorra box is opened... A
designer came forward with his ideas on a new flag, and with
argumentation going further from the constitutionality question.
So, maybe it is best that I left the articles to speak for
themselves. One can see them in two numbers of mentioned
newspapers (in PDF format, with images), but they are rather
large (500K and 2,5M) in Croatian at: <arhiva.vecernji-list.hr/Arhiva/000125/000125-05.pdf>
and <arhiva.vecernji-list.hr/Arhiva/000125/000128-2053.pdf>.
There is also a good vectorial image of Cro. CoA, see: <arhiva.vecernji-list.hr/Arhiva/000125/000125-01.pdf>.
Here is translation from Vecernji list, 25 January 2000.,
[ my notes in brackets]:
Is the Crown on the Croatian Coat of Arms unconstitutional?
The Constitution regulates only the basics of the Croatian coat
of arms ¯ 25 red and white fields "The coat of arms (CoA)
of the Republic of Croatia is the historic Croatian CoA that is
basically 25 interchangeably red and white (silver) fields. The
description of the historic Croatian CoA and its use and
protection is determined by law." That are two lines from
article 11 of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia on the
Croatia CoA, while the detailed layout of the CoA is regulated by
the Law on the CoAm the flag and the anthem of the Republic of
Croatia and the flag and the sashe of the President of the
Republic of Croatia. According to the Law, a crown is added to
the CoA basics, that features the oldest known Croatian CoA and
CoAs of the Republic of Dubrovnik [Ragusa], Dalmatia, Istria and
Slavonia. Does the Law steps over the constitutional limits?
According to opinion of dr. Slaven Letica, former councillior to
dr. Tudjman, that he repeated these days, the crown of the five
CoA is added to the Croatian red- white chequy shield
unconstitutionally. As he claims, Letica has warned the late
President that it is beyond the Constitution, but dr. Tudjman
then replied that it was already decided about the layout of the
Croatian CoA. Was there need to change the Constitution because
of the layout of the CoA, for what 2/3 mayority is needed in
parliament? In the time when the Law on CoA was being adopted, in
1990, Croatia had more pressing issues, so that the discussions
that rised from time to time, were left on side. Even if today
there are again more pressing matters, the question of the CoA
might intrigue the public again. Should the Croatian CoA be
changed and why is the question with many answers. Many prefer
only the chequy shield, others would say that the five CoAs in
the crown does not represent the entire Croatia, and maybe there
fund reason for constitutionality discussion. The third would
discuss if the chequy shield should begin with white or red field
(now it begins with red), another thing not regulated by the
Constitution. Some would be bothered that there is a crown above
the shield, a symbol of royalty, while others would not like that
the five CoAs refer to Croatian regions. However, the
constitution experts that we consulted could not say if the five
CoAs crown above the shield was really unconstitutionally added.
That is, the Constitution prescribes that the CoA hav
"basics of 25 fields", that would mean something can be
added to the basics, but how much could be added not to change
the general layout, is the question without simple answer.
Together with the announced Constitutional changes, maybe the
question of the CoA shall be dealt with again in the Parliament,
even if there are ideas that the citizens should decide on their
CoA on a referendum, that is if a referendum would not be to
expensive for us. According an other opinion, the crown is not
added unconstitutionally, sinc ethe Constitution prescribe ofly
the basics of 25 red-white fields, and the current five CoAs
crown can be changed by law.
S. Perica
Dr. Petar Strcic: Chequy fields can not be argued
Dr. Petar Strcic, the director of the Croatian arts and sciences
academy archive, talked about CoAs and flags for our newspapers
several years ago. On the origin of the chequy fields he said
that they are firs noted in use by Apennine bishop, but how they
found their home in Croatia it is not known. - The
cheap-political accusations that the current state CoA is taken
from Ustasha Independent State of Croatia [WWII axis state, in
territory of current Croatia and B&H] are really funny.
highlighted then dr. Strcic. The oldest known Croatian CoA is the
crescent with six-pointed star, set in first field of the crown
of the Croatian official CoA. Dr. Strcic said that the chequy
fields as base of the state CoA are not and can not be argued
about, but the same can not be said about all other elements of
the CoA. - The CoA of Dubrovnik set in the crown is, in fact, a
fraud version, but the biggest problem is with the CoA with goat
charge, that should represent Istria - said dr. Strcic, pointing
out that the CoA with a goat was among Istrian Croats considered
expressive symbol of romanization and italianization. It is in
use only from 19th century, and was prometed only by small
Italian and pro-Italian circle. - You can imagine what would be
reaction to the goat in the Croatian CoA of the Istrain
reformators, bishop Dobrila, Spincic or Laginja? asked dr.
Strcic.
Zeljko Heimer, 30 January 2000
See also: History of the National Flag