Island of Vukovar
Encyclopedia
The Island of Vukovar is a disputed island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...

 on the river Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....

. It is situated close to the city of Vukovar
Vukovar
Vukovar is a city in eastern Croatia, and the biggest river port in Croatia located at the confluence of the Vuka river and the Danube. Vukovar is the center of the Vukovar-Syrmia County...

.

During the existence of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...

 this island was part of Croatia
Socialist Republic of Croatia
Socialist Republic of Croatia was a sovereign constituent country of the second Yugoslavia. It came to existence during World War II, becoming a socialist state after the war, and was also renamed four times in its existence . It was the second largest republic in Yugoslavia by territory and...

. In the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...

, the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...

 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
Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem
Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia was a self-proclaimed Serb political entity in eastern Croatia, established during Yugoslav wars. Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia was one of three SAO Krajina proclaimed at the territory of Socialist Republic of Croatia and last and the...

 (east Croatia) at the time.

After the Erdut Agreement
Erdut Agreement
The Erdut Agreement , officially the Basic Agreement on the Region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, was the agreement reached on November 12, 1995 between the authorities of the Republic of Croatia and the local Serb authorities of the Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia...

 in 1998, Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem
Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem
Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia was a self-proclaimed Serb political entity in eastern Croatia, established during Yugoslav wars. Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia was one of three SAO Krajina proclaimed at the territory of Socialist Republic of Croatia and last and the...

 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
Island of Šarengrad
Island of Šarengrad is a Danube river island situated close to the village of Šarengrad in Croatia. The island was formed in 1909 with the construction of the Mohovo-Šarengrad canal....

.

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
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...

. 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.
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