International recognition of Croatia
While Croatian forces recorded their first successes against the Serbo-Federal army in western Slavonia, Croatia and Slovenia were being recognised as independent states by the international community. After Iceland on 19 December, followed by the Vatican City State and San Marino on 13 and 14 January, the Europe of the Twelve followed suit on 15 January, as did Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Poland and Switzerland. By the end of January, 44 countries had recognised Croatia as a sovereign state. Croatia's diplomatic victory would eventually lead to a laying down of arms due to the 15th ceasefire, which finally came into force on 2 January. A quarter of Croatia was nevertheless still occupied by Serbian forces and the front line remained virtually unchanged until the strategic reversal in summer 1995 (Photo: "May She live forever!", front page of the daily Večernji list on 16 January 1992.)
