While in the case of Soviet Union Russian Federation was internationally recognized as a sole successor state there was shared succession in Yugoslav case with five sovereign equal successor states which were formed upon the dissolution of the federation.[4][5] Serbia and the Russian Federation nevertheless recognize the continuity of all inter-State documents signed between the two countries since 1940. Croatia, using the principle and legislative procedure for of state succession, formally recognizes some of the old agreements such as 1955 Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, 1974 Agreement on Cultural, Scientific and Educational Cooperation or 1988 Agreement on Higher Education Qualifications Recognition.[6]