Island of Vukovar

Island of Vukovar ( _hr. Vukovarska ada) is a Croatian island on the river Danube. As its name implies, it is situated close to the city of Vukovar.

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 the 1992 Croatia became independent. By decision of the Badinter Arbitration Committee, the borders between the republics became the borders between the countries [ [http://www.ejil.org/journal/Vol3/No1/art12-13.pdf Decision of Badinter committee] ] , so the Island of Vukovar officially became Croatian territory under Serbian occupation, 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 withdrew its army from the island. [ [http://www.skdprosvjeta.com/news.php?id=388] Serbian police are controling the island on Serbian] . Even today, 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 Dunav [ [http://www.vjesnik.hr/pdf/2002%5C02%5C13%5C05A5.PDF] Map of island and provisional deal on Croatian] . The official Serbian position is that this short term deal will become the future border between the states so that the island of Vukovar is part of Serbia because it is nearer to Serbian coast [ [http://www.novosti.co.yu/code/navigate.php?Id=1&status=jedna&vest=70384] Serbian refusal of Badinter Arbitration Committee decision on Serbian] . On the other side the official Croatian position is that decision of the Badinter Arbitration Committee is final and without question, and the island is Croatian territory.

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