| Date |
Event |
| 12 February |
Committee of Serbian academics demands creation of a "Serbian Autonomous Oblast" in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. |
| 15 May |
SFRY minister of defence Admiral Branko Mamula is fired because of his opposition to Milošević.[3] Veljko Kadijević takes his place as the new minister. |
| 31 May - 4 June |
JNA captures Janez Janša and 3 other persons in Slovenia. Accusation is made about the discovery of a "state secret". The arrests provoke a national outcry in Slovenia. [4] |
| 27 September |
Boško Krunić representative of League of Communists of Yugoslavia and Franc Setinc, a Slovenian member of the Yugoslav Communist Party Politburo and are resigning due to ethnic conflict between Serbs and Albanians.[5] |
| 4 October |
Crowd of people gather in Bačka Palanka to protest against the provincial government of Vojvodina. |
| 5 October |
Under the control of Slobodan Milošević, Mihalj Kertes and 100,000 men from Bačka Palanka and the rest of Serbia enter Novi Sad, the capital of Vojvodina, and to support protests against the government of Vojvodina |
| 6 October |
After the JNA refuses to disperse crowd or protect the parliament building in Novi Sad, the entire parliament of Vojvodina resigns and is replaced with politicians loyal to Milošević [4]. The structure of the Presidency of Yugoslavia changes, by effectively giving Serbia 2 votes out of 8. |
| 9 October |
Montenegrin police intervene against protesters in Titograd and proclaim a state of emergency [5]. This is seen by Serbia as an act of hostility |
| 10 October |
Raif Dizdarevic president of SFRY has warned that the crisis in Yugoslavia might lead to extraordinary conditions. President has declared that the demonstrations against Communist Party leaders in various sections of the country are "negative events" which can lead to "unpredictable consequences" [6] |
| 17 October |
Failed attempt of Stipe Šuvar to kick out Slobodan Milošević from the Yugoslav Central Committee. |
| November 1988 |
Number of presidency members reduced to 8; presidency position for the president of the Presidium of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia is abolished. |
| 17 November |
Resignation of Kosovo provincial government; politicians loyal to Slobodan Milošević installed. This event triggers the first of many demonstrations by ethnic Albanians. Structure of the Presidency changes again, Serbia effectively having 3 votes out of 8. |
| 18 November |
Massive rally held in Belgrade of almost one million people in support of the Milošević policy.[7] |
| 19 November |
About 100,000 ethnic Albanians marched through the capital of Kosovo angered by Serbian removal of provincial leaders [8] |
| Date |
Event |
| 10 January |
Over 100,000 protesters gather in Titograd to protest the regional government of Montenegro. Members resign the next day [9] ; new leadership consists of Momir Bulatović, Milo Đukanović and Svetozar Marović, strongly allied with Milošević. Structure of Yugoslav presidency effectively hands Serbia 4 out of 8 votes (remaining votes belong to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia) |
| 20 February |
Albanian workers in Trepca mine (near Kosovska Mitrovica) go on strike. |
| 27 February |
Yugoslav presidency declares a state of emergency in Kosovo due to Albanian protests. |
| 3 March |
Arrest of Azem Vllasi |
| 4 March |
Serbian Writers Association discusses hate towards Serbs in Croatia, Kosovo and Slovenia. At this meeting Vuk Drašković mentions "Serbian western frontiers" |
| 16 March |
Slobodan Milošević rejects position of Yugoslav Prime Minister which had been offered by Minister of Defence Veljko Kadijević |
| 28 March |
With the Serbian change of constitution, Yugoslav provinces Vojvodina and Kosovo have autonomy abolished, but retain a seat in the presidency of Yugoslavia. |
| 8 May |
Slobodan Milošević becomes president of Serbia. |
| 17 June |
Creation of the Croatian Democratic Union in Croatia |
| 28 June |
Slobodan Milošević delivers the Gazimestan speech to maybe 2 000 000 Serbs in which he speaks about the possibility of future "armed battles" |
| 14 September |
At a meeting of the Serbian Writers Association in Belgrade, Vuk Drašković asks for the creation of a Serbian Krajina in Croatia |
| 27 September |
Slovenia amends its constitution in the name of greater autonomy inside Yugoslavia |
| 29 September |
Demonstrations in Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and Vojvodina against Slovenian constitutional amendments |
| 20 October |
Presidency of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina discovers actions of the Serbian Secret Service in Bosnian territory |
| 30 October |
Beginning of court proceedings against Azem Vllasi and other Kosovar politicians. |
| 3 November |
During Albanian demonstrations in Kosovo police uses force and some demonstrators are killed. |
| 20 November |
Slovenia refuses to allow demonstrations of Serbs and Montenegrins in Ljubljana. In line with this decision, Croatia has declared that it will not allow people from Serbia and Montenegro, travelling to Slovenia for December 1 demonstrations, to cross its territory.[6] |
| 29 November |
Serbia begins an economic blockade of Slovenia. |
| 1 December |
Less than 100 people turn up at a protest in Slovenia. Police disperse the crowd. |
| 10 December |
Secret meeting of Croatian and Slovenian presidents |
| 13 December |
Ivica Račan becomes president of the Croatian Communist Party against the wishes of the Yugoslav Army |
| 31 December |
Slobodan Milošević decides to stop sending electrical power to residents of Croatia. Italian foreign minister Gianni de Michelis is calls Croats and Slovenes extremist without any chance to enter Europe outside Yugoslavia |
| Date |
Event |
| 1 January |
Start of Ante Marković (prime minister from 17 March 1989) economic program |
| 20 January |
Last Congress of Communist League of Yugoslavia |
| 22 January |
Slovenian and few minutes latter Croatian delegats are leaving Congress of Communist League of Yugoslavia |
| 25 January |
New Albanian protests in Kosovo against emergency rule. Crowd of 40,000 people is dispersed with water cannons and tear gas. [7] |
| 26 January |
Yugoslav minister of defence demands a rise in military personnel in Slovenia. JNA creates a military plan of action for territories with ethnically mixed populations (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia). |
| 29 January |
General strike in Kosovo |
| 31 January |
Decision of Yugoslav presidency about sending of JNA on Kosovo to restore order. |
| 14 February |
Croatian parliament has changed laws to allow Multi-party system. |
| 16 February |
Zdravko Mustač chief of UDBA is declaring that HDZ will start Serb pogrom 48 hours after election wictory |
| 17 February |
Creation of Serb Democratic Party in Knin, Croatia |
| 25 February |
Franjo Tuđman is elected for HDZ president. |
| 4 March |
Protest of 50 000 Serbs from Croatia and Serbia on Petrova Gora. Demand has been "territorial integrity of Yugoslavia" and "against Franjo Tuđman Ustaša". |
| 10 March |
BBC is speaking against bad situation between Croats and Serbs and tensions created after Serbs demands on Petrova Gora |
| 17 March |
Duško Čubrilović of Serbian nationality has tried to kill Franjo Tuđman, on a election meeting in Benkovac. |
| 21 March |
Serbs around Zadar are creating nights guards which are controlling even bus lines. |
| 26 March |
Meeting between Serbian leadership about situation in Yugoslavia. Agreement is that war in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is not possible to avoid. |
| 30 March |
Meeting of League of Communists of Yugoslavia without members from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia. |
| 3 April |
members of Croatian police are withdrawn from Kosovo |
| 8 April |
First multiparty elections in Slovenia. Winners are DEMOS coalition and for president elected is communist Milan Kučan |
| 10 April |
Croatia: Serbs create the of "Association of municipalities from northern Dalmatia" in Knin. |
| 22 April |
First multiparty elections in Croatia. Winner is Croatian Democratic Union HDZ which is taking 193 of 365 parliament places [10]. |
| 26 April |
Meeting between Borisav Jović, future president of presidency, and minister of defence Veljko Kadijević, where he is reporting that JNA is ready for action in Slovenia and Croatia |
| 17 May |
JNA is starting to disarm territorial defense of Slovenia and Croatia. Because of Slovenian refusal disarming has failed in this republic |
| 26 May |
Creation of SDA in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| 30 May |
Croatian parliament has elected Franjo Tuđman for president position and Stipe Mesić for position of prime minister. Serb Democratic Party of Jovan Rašković has broken all relationship with Croatian parliament. |
| 30 May |
Vojislav Šešelj is saying in newspaper Svet:"Border of our Serbia is not Drina. Drina is Serbian river which is going through center of Serbia"[11] |
| 6 June |
City of Knin parliament is proposing creation of Association of municipalities of Northern Dalmatia and Lika. |
| 8 June |
JNA is creating new brigades in regions of Zagreb, Knin, Banja Luka and Herzegovina |
| 27 June |
Creation of Association of municipalities of Northern Dalmatia and Lika in Knin |
| 28 June |
Slobodan Milošević is speaking to Yugoslav president of presidency Borisav Jović about his thinking: "breakup of Croatia need to be done in such way so that Association of municipalities of Northern Dalmatia and Lika stay on our side of border". |
| 30 June |
Vladimir Šeks, vicepresident of Croatian parliament is speaking that SFRY need to become confederation. |
| 1 July |
Milan Babić is speaking in village Kosovo near Knin (Croatia) about future creation of SAO Krajina. |
| 1 July |
Parliament of Slovenia has voted declaration of independence (but independence is not proclaimed) |
| 2 July |
Kosovo parliament declares Kosovo an independent country, the Republic of Kosova. Recognized by nobody but Albania. |
| 5 July |
Parliament of Serbia has abolished parliament of Kosovo because of 2 July decision. |
| 20 July |
Parliament of Serbia has changed election laws to allow first multiparty elections. |
| 25 July |
Parliamet of Croatia has voted for constitutional changes in which word Socialist from Croatian name is deleted and it has cleared way for future confederation of independent states about which Vladimir Šeks has spoken on 30 June. Serb Democratic Party of Croatia has proclaimed declaration of independence of Serbs in Croatia and creation of Serbian National Council |
| 30 July |
In place Berak near Vukovar there has been attack on members of HDZ. |
| 31 July |
On first meeting of Serbian National Council in Croatia decision is made that referendum is needed for Serbian autonomy in Croatia. After receiving that news Croatian government has banned referendum [12].Milan Babić is elected president of council [13] |
| 31 July |
Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina has changed constitution so this republic has officially become home of Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats. |
| 5 August |
Creation of Serbian Democratic Party in Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| 13 August |
Delegation of Serbs from Knin under presidency of Milan Babić has come in Belgrade on meeting with Yugoslav president of presidency Borisav Jović and Yugoslav minister of interior Petar Gračanin. Borisav Jović has declared that municipalities will decide if they will stay in Yugoslavia or not. |
| 17 August |
Serbs of "Krajina" who accuse the Croatian authorities of discrimination raised baricades on key roads around Knin. Start of Log revolution [14] |
| 18 August |
Creation of Croatian Democratic Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| 20 August |
Yugoslav government and JNA is demanding that Croatia do not take actions against Serbs rebels in so-called Krajina. |
| 24 August |
Croatian president Franjo Tuđman is asking for meeting with Serbian president Slobodan Milošević. |
| 27 August |
It is possible to register new political parties in Serbia [15]. |
| 30 August |
Croatian constitutional court has declared that "Association of municipalities from northern Dalmatia and Lika" is against constitution so they are de jure abolished. |
| September |
Albanian members of the dissolved Kosovo parliament met clandestinely and adopted an alternative constitution [16] |
| 3 September |
Albanians are starting general strike on Kosovo.[17] |
| 3 September |
Ivan Zvonimir Čičak i Marinko Božić are creating Croatian Patriotic Organization in Herzegovina. Because of black uniforms similar to Croatian Quisling forces during WWII members are called Ustaše by Serbian press. |
| 7 September |
Josip Boljkovac Croatian minister of internal affairs has given ultimatum to rebels from Krajina region to stop all actions against constitution of Croatia and to return arms until 12 September in 12:00 hours. |
| 9 September |
Serb Democratic Party has demanded protection of Yugoslav presidency. |
| 12 September |
Serbian radio Knin is asking that citizens stop returning arms to Croatia government. |
| 13 September |
Massacre in Polat (village in Kosovo) committed by Serbia forces [18] |
| 18 September |
failed "coup" inside Bosniaks Party of Democratic Action. |
| 19 September |
Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina has voted to stay inside SFRY. |
| 26 September |
Serbs from Pakrac, Petrinja and Sisak (in Croatia) has started to block road traffic. |
| 28 September |
Constitution of Serbia is being changed : cancellation of autonomy for Vojvodina and Kosovo but members position in Presidency of Yugoslavia has not been abolished ! |
| 30 September |
Serbian National Council in Croatia that Serbian people has voted on referendum (which has been declared illegal by Croatia) for Serbian autonomy inside Croatia which is inside Yugoslavia. |
| 1 October |
Serbian National Council has proclaimed Creation of Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Krajina in Croatia. |
| 1 October |
George Bush has in his meeting with Yugoslav president of presidency given full support to Yugoslavia |
| 3 October |
Croatia and Slovenia are giving offer to Yugoslav presidency for creation of Yugoslav confederation |
| 4 October |
Slovenian parliament has abolished 27 Yugoslav laws on Slovenian territory. |
| 11 October |
Vojvodina oil company Naftagas has taken control of Croatian oil company propriety in self proclaimed Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Krajina |
| 16 October |
On Yugoslav presidency meeting Croatia and Slovenia has again demanded creation of Yugoslav confederation. Representatives from all other republics has voted against proposition. |
| 23 October |
Serbian parliament has voted for taxes on goods from Croatia and Slovenia. |
| 26 October |
Slobodan Milošević is asking for military actions only against Croatia and "only" in territory where are Serbs. |
| 18 November |
First multiparty election in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Party of Democratic Action (shortcut SDA) (party of Bosnian muslims) has received 86 seats (35 %), Serbian Democratic Party (SDP) 72 (29 %), Croatian Democratis Union (HDZ) 44 (18%). In Bosnia and Herzegovina presidency SDA has received 3 seats and SDP 2. |
| 22 November |
Meeting between Croatian and Slovenian president about future independence |
| 25 November |
VMRO–DPMNE is winner of first multiparty elections in Republic of Macedonia with 37 seats in parliament. Communists has received "only" 31 seat. |
| 28 November |
Meeting between Janez Drnovšek Slovenian ex president of Yugoslav presidency (until May 1990) and president of Yugoslav presidency Borisav Jović in which Slovenia has received green light for leaving Yugoslavia. |
| 29 November |
Arkan of paramilitary Serb Volunteer Guard is arrested in Croatia and soon he will be released. |
| 3 December |
Strongly divided between priest which support or oppose Slobodan Milošević Serbian Orthodox Church for new leader bishop is choosing Pavle from Kosovo. |
| 7 December |
Yugoslav minister of defense Veljko Kadijević has from Belgrade television attacked current Croatian leadership for recreation of fascism and genocide against Serbs. |
| 9 December |
Slobodan Milošević Socialist Party of Serbia is winner of first Serbian multiparty and he is elected for president with 65.35 % of votes. [19] |
| 9 December |
League of Communists of Montenegro is winner of first Montenegro multiparty elections. |
| 21 December |
Milan Babić has proclaimed SAO Krajina on Croatian territory. |
| 22 December |
Croatian parliament has voted for new constitution. In new constitution Croatia has become home of Croats and other nations. Removing of Serbs name in constitution is creating outcry in this Croatian minority. Parliament visitors during vote has been Milan Kučan president of Slovenia and Alija Izetbegović president of Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| 23 December |
Socialist Party of Serbia has received 192 out of 250 seats in Serbian parliament. |
| 23 December |
Momir Bulatović which has received his position after January coup is elected president of Montenegro with 76.9 % of votes. |
| 26 December |
Serbia takes from the Yugoslav Central Bank 1.8 billion US dollars (2.5 billion Deutsche Mark) in local currency (Yugoslav dinar) [20]. Under pressure of other republics and World Bank 1.5 thousand million Deutsche Mark are later returned [21] |
| 31 December |
Constitutional court of Croatia has declared that in legal sense SAO Krajina do not exist. |
| Date |
Event |
| 4 January |
Croatian government has create defense council. |
| 4 January |
Creation of Krajina police forces. |
| 4 January |
Veljko Kadijević Yugoslav minister of defense is demanding from Yugoslav president of presidency Borisav Jović that nations and not republic vote for staying or leaving Yugoslavia |
| 9 January |
Yugoslav president of presidency Borisav Jović is demanding presidency vote for use of JNA against Croatia and Slovenia. All 3 presidence members under Serbian control (Kosovo, Serbia and Vojvodina) and member from Montenegro are voting for use of force, but presidency members from other republics (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia) are voting against. |
| 10 January |
After meeting of Yugoslav presidency with JNA army is receiving green light to take weapons from "paramilitary forces". |
| 10 January |
Because of Bogić Bogićević vote on 9 January Radoslav Karadžić is demanding that he resign. Bogić Bogićević is Bosnian Serb which is elected on 25 June 1989 referendum to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina in Yugoslav presidency [22] |
| 15 January |
Veljko Kadijević is declaring that Serbs of Croatia are giving weapons, but Croats not. |
| 3 March |
Yugoslav army is deployed to stop fighting between Serbian villagers which has earlier seized control of police station in Pakrac and Croatia police unit which has restored control of the police station and town [23]. During fighting nobody is killed but first shots of Croatian War of Independence has been fired. |
| 9 March |
Start of great student demonstrations in Belgrade. JNA is receiving from presidency members green light to protect important buildings but it is using this green light to attack demonstrators. |
| 12 March |
Meeting of Yugoslav presidency in JNA Headquarters during demonstrations. JNA is demanding declaration of war situation. Vote is copy of 9 January with presidency members under Milošević control are voting for war and others against (4:4). After vote must important members of Yugoslav army are going on "diplomatic" missions in France, UK and USSR [24] |
| 15 March |
Slobodan Milošević declares on Serbian state television:"Yugoslavia does not exist any more"[11] |
| 31 March |
Bloody Easter at Plitvice, Croatia: first victim a Croat |
| 2 April |
President of "Krajina" Milan Babic has in Titova Korenica proclaimed union of this Croatian region under control of rebel Serbs with Serbia [25] |
| 2 May |
Borovo Selo killings take place |
| 19 May |
Referendum held for independence in Croatia - 94.17 % votes in favour of independence |
| 25 June |
Croatia makes a constitutional decision about independence |
| 25 June |
Slovenia declares independence |
| 31 July |
Milan Babic president of insurgent Serbs in Krajina has rejected peace proposal by the European Community ministers [26] |
| 25 August |
Beginning of the Siege of Vukovar |
| 8 September |
Macedonia declares independence |
| 30 September |
Referendum held for independence in Kosovo - majority in favour of independence. Serbia does not accept it. |
| 7 October |
Banski dvori are attacked by rockets of the Yugoslav People's Army |
| 7 October |
Croatian Parliament declares independence from Yugoslavia |
| 8 October |
Croatia declares independence |
| 13 October |
Radovan Karadžić tells Momčilo Mandić: "In just a couple of days, Sarajevo will be gone and there will be five hundred thousand dead, in one month Muslims will be annihilated in Bosnia and Herzegovina"[27] |
| 15 October |
Radovan Karadžić tells Miodrag Davidović and Luka Karadžić: "In the first place no one of their leadership (Bosniaks) would stay alive, in three, four hours they'd all be killed. They wouldn't have a chance to survive at all"[27] |
| 21 October |
Serbian paramilitary forces in Croatia commit Baćin massacre |
| 18-21 November |
Vukovar massacre at Ovčara takes place |
| 12-13 December |
Serbian paramilitary forces in Croatia commit Voćin massacre |
