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Home | Disputed Islands | Island of Vukovar
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During the existence of Yugoslavia this island was part of Croatia. In the Croatian War of Independence, the Yugoslav People's Army and Serbian paramilitary forces occupied the island. In 1991 Croatia became independent. It was the opinion of the Badinter Arbitration Committee that the borders between the republics should become the borders between the countries, but it was under Serbian control like other parts of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem (east Croatia) at the time. After the peace agreements in 1998, Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem were rejoined with Croatia, but the island of Vukovar was left under Serbian military occupation. A similar situation has happened with the Island of Šarengrad. In 2004 Serbia mostly withdrew its army from the island, but the police completely took over border control only in 2006. In 2006, the island's beaches were opened to the public for the first time since the Croatian War of Independence. The island is maintained by Vukovar's Sports Recreation Society Dunav. Regardless, citizens of Croatia are unable to visit their possessions on that island. One part of the peace agreements has been the short term deal that Croatia will control the western part and Serbia eastern part of the Danube. The official Serbian position is that Badinter Arbitration Committee opinion is not valid and that this short term deal between Croatia and Serbia will become the future border between the states so that the island of Vukovar is part of Serbia because it is nearer to Serbian shore. On the other side the official Croatian position is that opinion of the Badinter Arbitration Committee is final and without question, and the island is Croatian territory. |
