|
|
          |
|
Chronology of major events 6 December 1990 - The Plebiscite Law for the Independence and Sovereignty of the Republic of Slovenia is adopted by the Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia. 23 December 1990 - A Plebiscite on the Independence of the Republic of Slovenia is held. 26 December 1990 - Plebiscite results are officially announced. Turnout for the plebiscite was 93.2% of those eligible to vote. 88.5% said "yes" to an independent and sovereign Slovenia. Prior to the plebiscite a Declaration to Respect the Fundamental Conventions of the European Council is adopted by the Assembly. 8 January 1991 - Serbian authorities "invade" the Yugoslav finance system and "borrow" 18 billion, 243 million dinars from the first Yugoslav National Bank issue (1.4 billion dollars or almost half of the common loans based on the first 1991 issue for all Yugoslav banks). This is the beginning of the end of the Yugoslav economy. 9 January 1991 - The Slovenian government publishes a memorandum in which it criticises the federal government because of its slow, inappropriate reaction to the disintegration of the Yugoslav economic system. 9 January 1991 - Based on a proposal made by the Yugoslav People's Army (YPA) leadership the Federal Presidency issues a decree for the return of any illegally obtained weapons and the disarmament of all special units that are not part of the YPA. Stipe Mesic and Janez Drnovsek oppose this decree. 10 January 1991 - Representatives of the Yugoslav Republics meet in Belgrade to discuss the future of the federation.
11 January 1991 - The Assembly adopts the Slovenian government memorandum and tasks the government with drafting a proposal by 23 January for activities to implement the objectives stated in the plebiscite, in particular the proposal for the peaceful dissolution of Yugoslavia and the proposal for measures to be taken by Slovenia for admission into the UN. 20 February 1991 - The Slovenian parliament adopts a resolution in which it suggested to parliaments in other republics that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) be dissolved in a friendly way. The dissolution was top result in the establishment of two or more independent, sovereign countries. With the adoption of amendments to the Slovenian constitution all of the articles that transfer sovereignty from the Republic to the Federation are annulled. 1 March 1991 - The Federal Presidency rejects the Slovenian and Croatian proposal for the peaceful dissolution of the SFRY. 8 March 1991 - A constitutional law, in which Slovenian conscripts are no longer obliged to do their military service in the Yugoslav People's Army is passed by the Slovenian Parliament. 12 March 1991 - The YPA leadership call a session of the Federal Presidency. During this session they propose that a state of emergency throughout the country be declared. 13 March 1991 - Without informing the SFRY government, the Federal Secretary for National Defence, General Veljko Kadijevic, and some of his colleagues, travel to Moscow for secret talks and ask for support. They are refused. 18 March 1991 - The Slovenian presidency forms a contingency planning coordination body for a state of emergency. This body is tasked with the coordination of all important measures in order to protect the level of independence achieved by Slovenia. In wartime it is to coordinate military, political and diplomatic efforts. 19 March 1991 - The War Council, an informal body of the highest ranking YPA military representatives, announces a resolution that prohibits any border changes and armed conflict between peoples. It demands that the YPA be financed regularly, territorial defence forces be put under the authority of the YPA again, and that uninterrupted recruiting be assured. This proposal is welcomed by the President of the Federal Government Ante Markovic, who demands that Slovenia transfer the command of the Territorial Defence forces to the YPA and revoke the resolution that blocks the sending of Slovenian recruits to the YPA. Soon after, the YPA threatens to come to Slovenia and fetch the recruits if Slovenia does not begin sending them again by 15 May. 1 April 1991 - During a session of all three chambers, the first entirely independent budget is adopted by the Slovenian Assembly. 6 April 1991 - A new Defence and Protection Law that had been adopted by the Assembly on 29 March is published in the RS Official Gazette, No 15-555/91. 18 April 1991 - Representatives of the Yugoslav Republics meet in Brdo pri Kranju and present two possible forms for the future organisation of the country. In the first option, SFRY would become a federation of sovereign countries, or a confederation. In the second option, it would remain a uniform federal country, or a federation. A decision is to be announced in the next few months, but in never was. 24 April 1991 - The Federal Department of Finance drafts a decree on the implementation of regulations for the payment of customs duties and tasks the police forces and the army with the implementation of this decree. 27 April 1991 - The following legislation is published in the RS Official Gazette, No 18- 791/91: Military Duty Law, Decree for the Formation of Territorial Defence Commands and Institutions in the Republic of Slovenia, and the Decree for the Determination of Criteria for the Formation of the Regular Structure of Territorial Defence District Commands. April 1991 - A course for the leadership, officers and instructors of the first two training centres is organised in Poljce.
4 May 1991 - The following laws pertaining independence are adopted by the Slovenian assembly: The Citizenship Law, The Slovenian National Bank Law and The Foreign Credit Business Law. 8 May 1991 - A constitutional law on National Defence that specifies the use of all available military capabilities for the defence of Slovenia is adopted by the National Assembly. 15 May 1991 - The first class of Slovenian soldiers begins their training in the first two TD training centres in Pekre pri Mariboru and at Ig pri Ljubljani. Stipe Mesic is not elected the new President of the SFRY Presidency. 23 May 1991 - An incident occurs between TD and YPA representatives in the Pekre training centre. 24 May 1991 - During negotiations the Commander of the TD Territorial Command, Vladimir Milosevic, and TD officer Milko Ozmec are kidnapped by the YPA. Josef Simcik is killed after being run down by an armoured personnel carrier leaving the Vojvoda Misic barracks. May 1991 - 180 conscripts begin their obligatory military service at the Ig and 120 at the Pekre training centre. 2 June 1991 - The first soldier swears his allegiance to Slovenia. 5 June 1991 - The last package of legislation for independence is adopted by the Slovenian assembly. A Slovenian delegation, consisting of Milan Kucan, Janez Drnovsek and Lojze Peterle, travel to Belgrade to negotiate concerning Slovenian independence with the Federal Prime Minister Ante Markovic and the Federal Secretary of Defence Veljko Kadijevic. The suggestions made by the federal side are unacceptable. 12 June 1991 - Ante Markovic visits Slovenia at the invitation of the Slovenian leadership and assures Assembly representatives that the federal government does not wish to use force. 21 June 1991 - During a session of the Federal Chamber of the Yugoslav Assembly Ante Markovic points out that the federal government intend to use all of the available legal mechanisms to prevent unilateral changes to both internal or external borders. 10 RS Territorial Defence aircraft are removed from the Cerklje airfield by the YPA. 23 June 1991 - EEC members agree not to recognise the independence of Slovenia and Croatia if they unilaterally secede from the Yugoslav federation. 24 June 1991 - A new Slovenian coat of arms and a new Slovenian flag are designed. 25 June 1991 - The Slovenian Parliament adopts a constitutional law that implements the Basic Charter of the Independence and Sovereignty of the Republic of Slovenia, the Declaration of Independence and several additional laws that enable Slovenia to take over the authority previously held by the federal government on Slovenian territory. 26 June 1991 - Slovenia is declared an independent country by President Milan Kucan at a ceremony held in Trg Revolucije square, Ljubljana. |
