ZAVNOH

Country Anti-Fascist Council of People's Liberation of Croatia (ZAVNOH) ( _hr. Zemaljsko antifašističko vijeće narodnog oslobođenja Hrvatske) was formed as the highest governing organ of anti-fascist movement in Croatia and during World War II developed to be bearer of Croatian statehood. At its last meeting it proclaimed it changes its name to "Narodni sabor Hrvatske" (trans. "People's Parliament of Croatia", "Sabor" is current name of Croatian Parliament).

essions

1st session

* June 13 (in Otočac) and June 14 1943 (on Plitvice Lakes)

Founding session of ZAVNOH. Vladimir Nazor was chosen president. ZAVNOH adopted "Proclamation to Peoples of Croatia" ("Proglas narodima Hrvatske" in Croatian) and "Resolution" (often called "Plitvice Resolution"). Resolution stated that ZAVNOH was highest political authority of anti-fascist movement in Croatia. Executive board ("Izvršni odbor" in Croatian, abbr. IO ZAVNOH) of 11 members was elected to perform duties of ZAVNOH between sessions.

2nd session

* October 12 - October 15 1943 in Plaški

New executive board of 15 members was elected. Decision of Executive Board of ZAVNOH of September 20 1943 was confirmed, and "Ordinance About Interior Organisation and Work of ZAVNOH" was adopted. Secretariat of ZAVNOH was founded, which ruled Croatian affairs as de facto government.

3rd session

* May 8 and May 9 1944 in Topusko

Often called "Sabor u Topuskom" (trans. "Assembly in Topusko").Decissions:
* Authorization of Croatian delegates on the 2nd AVNOJ meeting to represent Croatia
* Proclamation of ZAVNOH as the supreme legislative and executive organ of government of Federal State of Croatia
* Declaration of basic rights of peoples and citizens of the Federal State of Croatia:
** The Croatian and Serbian people in Croatia are equal in every way. The National minorities in Croatia will have guaranteed human rights.
** All citizens of Croatia are equal in the eyes of the law, regardless of their nationality, race and religion
** Women have the same rights as men
** Every citizen is guaranteed personal and property security. The right of ownership and private initiatives are guaranteed.
* Decision about structure and operations of NOOs and assemblies in Federal State of Croatia
* Rules of conduct of ZAVNOH

Third session of ZAVNOH formally formed the Federal State of Croatia. Newly adopted "Rules of conduct of ZAVNOH" disbanded IO (Executive Board) and formed 31 member Presidium of ZAVNOH.

4th session

* August 21 1945 in Zagreb (in building of Croatian Parliament)

ZAVNOH changes name to "People's Assembly of Croatia".

Important decisions of ZAVNOH between sessions

* On September 20 1943 Executive Board of ZAVNOH issued decision to return Istria, Zadar, Cres, Lastovo and other parts of Croatia which were ceded to fascist Italy by Independent State of Croatia.

* First People's Government of Croatia (led by Vladimir Bakarić) was founded on ZAVNOH Presidium session on April 14 1945 in Split.

Constitution of Croatia on ZAVNOH

Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia:

"The millenary identity of the Croatia nation and the continuity of its statehood, confirmed by the course of its entire historical experience within different forms of states and by the preservation and growth of the idea of a national state, founded on the historical right of the Croatian nation to full sovereignty, manifested in:"

[...]

"- establishing the foundations of state sovereignty during the course of the Second World War, by the decisions of the Antifascist Council of National Liberation of Croatia (1943), as opposed to the proclamation of the Independent State of Croatia (1941), and subsequently in the Constitution of the People's Republic of Croatia (1947) and all later constitutions of the Socialist Republic of Croatia (1963-1990)" [...]

Source: [http://www.usud.hr/htdocs/en/the_constitution.htm]

ee also

* AVNOJ
* Sabor