Joint Council of Municipalities
Encyclopedia
Joint Council of Municipalities is a body that aligns the interests of the Serb ethnic community
in Eastern Slavonia
, Baranja
and Western Syrmia
in the Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Syrmia County
, coordinate the law and provides initiatives and proposals to the institutions of government
, international organizations and NGOs.
The only area of Croatia
remaining under Serb control after August 1995 was SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia. Local Serbs therefore concluded that unless an agreement was reached, they would face the same fate as the Serbs in western part of Krajina
. Meanwhile, Milošević and Tuđman reached a consensus in Dayton
, and on 12 November, the Erdut Agreement
, which ended the war in eastern Croatia
, was also signed. The agreement guarantees the Serbs "the highest level of internationally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms", and the Serb community was furthermore given the right to "appoint a joint Council of Municipalities". The Council was established in 1997 on the basis of Erdut Agreement
. The Council is one of the organizations that make Serb National Council. The Croatian authorities and public bodies often ignore or manipulate the provisions of the Agreement and this has resulted in much disappointment on the local level and among international organizations.
At least once in every four months, the Council delegation meets with Croatian President which is consistent with the letter that the Croatian government sent to the Security Council at the end of reintegration of region. The Council has also established close contacts with the authorities of the Republic of Serbia. From 2011, the Council will, with current activities, take part in EU projects and projects of the Ministry of Diaspora of Republic of Serbia.
, Erdut
, Markušica
, Borovo
, Jagodnjak
, Negoslavci
and Šodolovci
. These municipalities are all located in Vukovar-Syrmia
and Osijek-Baranja county
. In municipalities Jagodnjak, Markušica, Šodolovci and Trpinja development index is less than 50% of the Croatian average, which classifies them into 10% of the poorest municipalities. In Borovo, Erdut and Negoslavci index is between 50-75%. According to 2001 census, area of these municipalities had a population of 29,254 inhabitants and an area of 587.65 square kilometers, which is comparable with Isle of Man
by territory and with Gibraltar
by population. However, the mandate of the Council is not limited to the area of member municipalities since Council is also authorized under the Erdut Agreement
to protect the rights of all 60,500 Serbs
who lives at teritory of former Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia. It is important to emphasize how Council is not a body of territorial autonomy although its mandate is territorially defined. The Council's powers are well defined in its statute, and any municipality or city in these two counties (where Serbs constitute a certain percentage of the population) automatically participate in its work. However, no any type of authority of municipalities is formally transferred to the level of Council. At the same time the municipalities also cooperate outside of Council (in matters that are not within Council jurisdiction), such as joint appearances at fairs.
region. Substantial Serbian communities are located in Vukovar, Beli Manastir and other towns and settlements. Some villages in some municipalities outside of Council territory are inhabited mostly by Serbs. Some of these villages are Srijemske Laze
, Šidski Banovci, Vinkovački Banovci
, Orolik
, Klisa
, etc.
In the city of Vukovar
there is a Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia, which was established in February 5, 1998.
guaranteed existence of the Council as a legal entity, its function is still not clearly defined. Since the end of the war until 2010 Council functioned just as an association of municipalities. In this period, Government was also required to fund its work (which is also its commitment according to the position of the Security Council), but the legal position of the Council was below level anticipated by the decision of the Croatian Government
. Specifically, by the decision on the establishment of Council, Council is legal entity, as all other state public institutions and structures at all levels which have that status. In 2010, Croatian parliament
decided about amendments to the Constitutional Law related to National Minorities Rights. According to the proposal, the Council was to become a special administrative unit of Croatia that would be located in the territory of two counties. The proposed article of the constitutional law was In the area of Vukovar-Syrmia and Osijek-Baranja County, in accordance with the Basic Agreement on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium of 12 November 1995. (Erdut Agreement) and the Letter of Intent of the Croatian Government of 13 of January 1997., operates the Joint Council of Municipalities as a legal entity. Due to opposition from certain members of parliament, this part of bill was taken off the ballot. This decision provoked a very heated debate in parliament. Opponents of the adoption of this proposal have argued that this creates a kind of local government with no parallel in the rest of the country, although they did not explained why it would be unacceptable. Reply of Milorad Pupovac
, MPs of the Serbian national minority, to this claim was extremely sharp. He condemned the MPs who were willing to recognize the full independence of Kosovo
, while objecting to recognize the autonomy of the local Serbian community. However, it was not clear what is the similarity between these two cases. In Kosovo, there was a separatist movement that fought for an independent state which should be independent of the decisions of Serbian government, whereas in the case of Council there is just a movement that advocates only local autonomy and that do not negates the other state institutions of Croatia. President of the Independent Democratic Serbian Party
Vojislav Stanimirović
said on this occasion that the speech MPs Vesna Pusić
(President of the National Committee for Monitoring Accession Negotiations with EU and one of the most important member of HNS) stood out from every civilized level. At an emergency Council meeting that followed the day after the constitutional changes president Dragan Crnogorac condemned the statements of MPs Vesna Pusić
, Ingrid Antičević Marinović, Josip Leko and Zoran Vinković. He also told We are not autonomists or separatists, we are legally elected representatives in local government and members of Council. Vesna Pusić
explained her attitude later in weekly Novosti
where she said she believe that Council should definitely exist but that it does not need constitutional protection. On the remark that she is not familiar that the Erdut Agreement is not temporary but permanent contract (which is in accordance with the opinion of the Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan
from 2003), she said that this is not true, but she just does not think that this was a good proposal. For feedback of SDP
MPs Zoran Vinković how the Council presents a new SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia she said that she do not agree. Eventually a compromise was reached that the Council will receive preferred status, but it will be ensured only by an ordinary, not constitutional law. In fact, constitutional law can be changed only by a two thirds majority in parliament, while the common law can be repealed or changed by a simple majority.
: "International Festival of Child Folklore"), "Horsko duhovno veče" (English
: "Choir Spiritual Night") and "Izložba likovnog stvaralaštva" (English
: "The exhibition of fine art"). Organized by the Council, Veteran Football League
brings together veterans of 10 soccer clubs, and there are also Council Chess Leagues and Shooting League. The Council also publishes monthly magazine Izvor (English
: "Source") and, in cooperation with Radio Television of Serbia
and Radio Television of Vojvodina
, it broadcasts twice per month an TV show named "Hronika Slavonije, Baranje i zapadnog Srema" (English
: "Chronicle of Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia"). Joint Council of Municipalities also collaborates with local minority media such as Radio Borovo
, and has a 25% stake in Radio Dunav in Vukovar.
On 23. May, 2011. Council was first time celebrate Day of the Joint Council of Municipalities. Marking began by laying flowers on the grave of the first President of Council, Milos Vojnovic at a New cemetery in Vukovar
. After that, in the hotel "Lav", ceremony took place. On this occasion, President of the Council Dragan Crnogorac stated; From this important date (note:date of establishment), Joint Council of Municipalities as an internationally recognized institution in Croatia work on preserving of rights and interests of the Serbs, their cultural and educational autonomy, Serbian traditions, customs, language and Cyrillic alphabet, but also work on reconstruction, development, improvement of the total life of all citizens and because of this is respected and stable partner of government and all entities that are committed to these values.
Serbs of Croatia
Višeslav of Serbia, a contemporary of Charlemagne , ruled the Županias of Neretva, Tara, Piva, Lim, his ancestral lands. According to the Royal Frankish Annals , Duke of Pannonia Ljudevit Posavski fled, during the Frankish invasion, from his seat in Sisak to the Serbs in western Bosnia, who...
in Eastern Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
, Baranja
Baranya (region)
Baranya or Baranja is a geographical region between the Danube and the Drava rivers. Its territory is divided between Hungary and Croatia...
and Western Syrmia
Syrmia
Syrmia is a fertile region of the Pannonian Plain in Europe, between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia in the east and Croatia in the west....
in the Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Syrmia County
Vukovar-Syrmia County
Vukovar-Syrmia county is the easternmost Croatian county. It includes the eastern parts of Slavonia and western parts of Syrmia regions; but also the lower Sava river basin ....
, coordinate the law and provides initiatives and proposals to the institutions of government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
, international organizations and NGOs.
Formation
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
remaining under Serb control after August 1995 was SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia. Local Serbs therefore concluded that unless an agreement was reached, they would face the same fate as the Serbs in western part of Krajina
Republic of Serbian Krajina
The Republic of Serbian Krajina was a self-proclaimed Serb entity within Croatia. Established in 1991, it was not recognized internationally. It formally existed from 1991 to 1995, having been initiated a year earlier via smaller separatist regions. The name Krajina means "frontier"...
. Meanwhile, Milošević and Tuđman reached a consensus in Dayton
Dayton Agreement
The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the Dayton Agreement, Dayton Accords, Paris Protocol or Dayton-Paris Agreement, is the peace agreement reached at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio in November 1995, and formally signed in Paris on...
, and on 12 November, 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...
, which ended the war in eastern Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, was also signed. The agreement guarantees the Serbs "the highest level of internationally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms", and the Serb community was furthermore given the right to "appoint a joint Council of Municipalities". The Council was established in 1997 on the basis of 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...
. The Council is one of the organizations that make Serb National Council. The Croatian authorities and public bodies often ignore or manipulate the provisions of the Agreement and this has resulted in much disappointment on the local level and among international organizations.
Internal structure
The Council consists of Council Assembly whose members are elected in the elections, Commission for Election and Appointment, Secretariat, Office of the President and two Offices of Vice-Presidents who at the same time are also Vice-Presidents of both counties. There are also four specialized committees which are an integral part of the Council:- Committee for Civic, Human and Minority Rights
- Committee for Education, Culture and Sport
- Committee for Media, Information and Faith Issues
- Television Production Council
At least once in every four months, the Council delegation meets with Croatian President which is consistent with the letter that the Croatian government sent to the Security Council at the end of reintegration of region. The Council has also established close contacts with the authorities of the Republic of Serbia. From 2011, the Council will, with current activities, take part in EU projects and projects of the Ministry of Diaspora of Republic of Serbia.
Member municipalities
Council member Municipalities are: TrpinjaTrpinja
Trpinja is a village and municipality in the Vukovar-Syrmia County in eastern Croatia. There are 1,537 inhabitants in village Trpinja and 5,680 inhabitants in the municipality according to the 2011 census. The majority of the population are Serbs, making up 89.29% of the population according to...
, Erdut
Erdut
Erdut is a village and a municipality in eastern Croatia. It is located in the Osijek-Baranja County, eastern Slavonia, 37 km east of Osijek. The elevation of the village of Erdut is 158 m...
, Markušica
Markušica
Markušica is a village and a municipality in Vukovar-Syrmia County, Croatia. There are 3,053 inhabitants, the majority of the population which are Serbs, who make up 90.76% of the population according to the 2001 population census...
, Borovo
Borovo, Croatia
Borovo , previously called Borovo Selo , is a village and an eponymous municipality in Vukovar-Syrmia County in eastern Croatia. It is located on the Danube across the border with Serbia, and has a population of 5,133 , with 86.56% of the population of Serb ethnicity...
, Jagodnjak
Jagodnjak
Jagodnjak is a village and a municipality in the Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. Jagodnjak development index is less than 50% of the Croatian average, which classifies them into 10% of the poorest municipalities...
, Negoslavci
Negoslavci
Negoslavci is a village and a municipality in Vukovar-Syrmia County, Croatia. There are 1,466 inhabitants, the majority of the population which are Serbs, making up 96.58% of the population according to the 2001 population census...
and Šodolovci
Šodolovci
Šodolovci is a village and a municipality in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. According to the 2001 census, there are 1,653 Serbs, 240 Croats and 62 others. By mother tongue, there are 1,719 Croatian speakers, 204 Serbian speakers and 32 speakers of other languages...
. These municipalities are all located in Vukovar-Syrmia
Vukovar-Syrmia County
Vukovar-Syrmia county is the easternmost Croatian county. It includes the eastern parts of Slavonia and western parts of Syrmia regions; but also the lower Sava river basin ....
and Osijek-Baranja county
Osijek-Baranja County
Osijek-Baranja county is a county in Croatia, located in northeastern Slavonia and Baranja. Its center is Osijek; other cities include Đakovo, Našice, Valpovo, Belišće, Beli Manastir.-Administrative divisions:Osijek-Baranja county is divided into:...
. In municipalities Jagodnjak, Markušica, Šodolovci and Trpinja development index is less than 50% of the Croatian average, which classifies them into 10% of the poorest municipalities. In Borovo, Erdut and Negoslavci index is between 50-75%. According to 2001 census, area of these municipalities had a population of 29,254 inhabitants and an area of 587.65 square kilometers, which is comparable with Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
by territory and with Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
by population. However, the mandate of the Council is not limited to the area of member municipalities since Council is also authorized under 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...
to protect the rights of all 60,500 Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
who lives at teritory of former Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia. It is important to emphasize how Council is not a body of territorial autonomy although its mandate is territorially defined. The Council's powers are well defined in its statute, and any municipality or city in these two counties (where Serbs constitute a certain percentage of the population) automatically participate in its work. However, no any type of authority of municipalities is formally transferred to the level of Council. At the same time the municipalities also cooperate outside of Council (in matters that are not within Council jurisdiction), such as joint appearances at fairs.
Data by municipalities
| MUNICIPALITY | Trpinja Trpinja Trpinja is a village and municipality in the Vukovar-Syrmia County in eastern Croatia. There are 1,537 inhabitants in village Trpinja and 5,680 inhabitants in the municipality according to the 2011 census. The majority of the population are Serbs, making up 89.29% of the population according to... |
Erdut Erdut Erdut is a village and a municipality in eastern Croatia. It is located in the Osijek-Baranja County, eastern Slavonia, 37 km east of Osijek. The elevation of the village of Erdut is 158 m... |
 MarkušicaMarkušica Markušica is a village and a municipality in Vukovar-Syrmia County, Croatia. There are 3,053 inhabitants, the majority of the population which are Serbs, who make up 90.76% of the population according to the 2001 population census... |
Borovo Borovo, Croatia Borovo , previously called Borovo Selo , is a village and an eponymous municipality in Vukovar-Syrmia County in eastern Croatia. It is located on the Danube across the border with Serbia, and has a population of 5,133 , with 86.56% of the population of Serb ethnicity... |
Jagodnjak Jagodnjak Jagodnjak is a village and a municipality in the Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. Jagodnjak development index is less than 50% of the Croatian average, which classifies them into 10% of the poorest municipalities... |
Negoslavci Negoslavci Negoslavci is a village and a municipality in Vukovar-Syrmia County, Croatia. There are 1,466 inhabitants, the majority of the population which are Serbs, making up 96.58% of the population according to the 2001 population census... |
Šodolovci Šodolovci Šodolovci is a village and a municipality in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. According to the 2001 census, there are 1,653 Serbs, 240 Croats and 62 others. By mother tongue, there are 1,719 Croatian speakers, 204 Serbian speakers and 32 speakers of other languages... |
TOTAL |
| Population in 2001 | 6 466 | 8 417 | 3 053 | 5 360 | 2 537 | 1 466 | 1 955 | 29 254 |
| Population in 2011 | 5 962 | 7 898 | 2 734 | 5 253 | 2 163 | 1 487 | 1 848 | 27 345 |
| Area | 123.87km2 | 158 km2 | 73.44 km2 | 28.13 km2 | 105km2 | 21.21km2 | 78 km2 | 587.65 km2 |
| number of settlements | 7 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 29 |
| number of educational institutions | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 28 |
| municipality budget 2009 | 1 368 622.49$ | 2 906 855.12$ | 859 169.32$ | 1 232 702.83$ | 1 365 005.90$ | 234 567.65$ | 468 740.54$ | 8 435 663.85$ |
Geographic and cultural characteristics of municipalities
- Trpinja Municipality is composed of seven villages. According to the 2001 census, SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
accounted 89% of the population of the municipality. Name of the Trpinja settlement was first mentioned in 1329 in one document issued in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. Document is today kept in BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. The village was owned by the gentry until it was conquered by the Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in 1536. Ottoman authorities settled SerbSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
population in this area, which resulted in decreased percentage of local Hungarians. Area was under Ottoman administration until 1691, when it was conquered by the Habsburg Monarchy. According to the census of 1732, TrpinjaTrpinjaTrpinja is a village and municipality in the Vukovar-Syrmia County in eastern Croatia. There are 1,537 inhabitants in village Trpinja and 5,680 inhabitants in the municipality according to the 2011 census. The majority of the population are Serbs, making up 89.29% of the population according to...
had 109 Serb families. Built of the Serbian Orthodox church began in 1750 and was completed in 1755. The first school in Trpinja was opened in 1776, while in 1859 Trpinja had a factory for spinning silk. In 1882, population of Trpinja numbered about 1,800 people in 400 homes. The inhabitants were Christian Orthodox SerbsSerbian Orthodox ChurchThe Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
, except of 2-3 families of Roman Catholic faith. Although the period of First World War in a village was marked by a disease and poverty, Trpinja residents hosted the population of the village of Jacov. The villagers participated in the anti-fascist struggle in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and one number of them ended up in concentration camps of Independent State of CroatiaIndependent State of CroatiaThe Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
. According to the 1981 census, Trpinja had 2,243 inhabitants.
- Erdut is a town and municipality in eastern SlavoniaSlavoniaSlavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
, CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. Until the new territorial organization in Croatia, the area belonged to large pre-war municipality of OsijekOsijekOsijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
. Today Erdut is municipality within the Osijek-Baranja countyOsijek-Baranja CountyOsijek-Baranja county is a county in Croatia, located in northeastern Slavonia and Baranja. Its center is Osijek; other cities include Đakovo, Našice, Valpovo, Belišće, Beli Manastir.-Administrative divisions:Osijek-Baranja county is divided into:...
, with a majority Serb population. Erdut founded the best way of using its tourist potential of all Council member municipalities. Popular sites for tourists are Catholic Marian shrine in Aljmaš which annually attracts more than 100,000 pilgrims, Orthodox Patriarch's Palace of Eparchy of Osečko polje and BaranjaEparchy of Osečko polje and BaranjaEparchy of Osečko polje and Baranja is an eparchy of the Serb Orthodox Church encompassing easternmost areas of Croatia.The present bishop is called Lukijan and his see is in Dalj. The eparchy has three hierarchs with vicarages in Osijek, Vukovar and Baranja, with a total of 39 priests and two...
, Orthodox Monastery, remains of medieval town of Erdut from the late 15th century, Adamović-Csech Castle from the 19th century, wine cellar from the 1730, birth house of scientist Milutin MilankovićMilutin MilankovicMilutin Milanković was a Serbian geophysicist and civil engineer, best known for his theory of ice ages, suggesting a relationship between Earth's long-term climate changes and periodic changes in its orbit, now known as Milankovitch cycles. Milanković gave two fundamental contributions to global...
, over 500 hectares of vineyards, the largest wine barrel in the world, The DanubeDanubeThe 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....
and the DravaDravaDrava or Drave is a river in southern Central Europe, a tributary of the Danube. It sources in Toblach/Dobbiaco, Italy, and flows east through East Tirol and Carinthia in Austria, into Slovenia , and then southeast, passing through Croatia and forming most of the border between Croatia and...
river, etc.
- Markušica Municipality is famous for the monument dedicated to fallen soldier from World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Village have very unique monument of SovietSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
woman pilot from Red ArmyRed ArmyThe Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, who fought against the Nazis and whose plane was shot down here. The village also have an interesting Orthodox Church. - Borovo Municipality has been inhabited since the Stone AgeStone AgeThe Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
. In the younger Iron AgeIron AgeThe Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
this region was settled by the Celts. During Roman times, several villages and the only crossing over the Danube in the empire existed in this area. Around 1540 Borovo was populated by Serbs who originated from the upper DrinaDrinaThe Drina is a 346 kilometer long river, which forms most of the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. It is the longest tributary of the Sava River and the longest karst river in the Dinaric Alps which belongs to the Danube river watershed...
and Polimlje. Church of Saint Stephen the Archdeacon was built between 1761 and 1764. Place became an important regional industrial center during the existence of YugoslaviaYugoslaviaYugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. However, after the collapse of Yugoslavia, a large part of the local industry also collapsed. The town have one of the three Serbian radio stations in the region. - Jagodnjak municipality is the northernmost member municipality. It was first mentioned in 1323. In its early history, the settlement has been owned by Hungarian nobles. In the 16th-17 century, the village was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the middle of the 17th century, the village was predominantly populated by ethnic Serb population. From the end of the 17th century until the end of World War I, the village was part of the Habsburg MonarchyHabsburg MonarchyThe Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
, and after the war it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (YugoslaviaYugoslaviaYugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
). - Negoslavci municipality is the smallest member municipality. Negoslavci village is mentioned in historical documents from the 15th century. The assumption is that there was also an ancient Roman settlement at this locality. During Austro-HungarianAustria-HungaryAustria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
administration, settlement of Negoslavci was the seat of the municipality, as was evidenced by the records from 1894. After World War II, the village was settled by the people from Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. - Šodolovci municipality is composed of seven villages.
Serbs in the rest of the two counties
The total number of Serbs in the two counties is 60,500 which is considerably less than the prewar number. Most of them live in the area of former Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western SremEastern 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...
region. Substantial Serbian communities are located in Vukovar, Beli Manastir and other towns and settlements. Some villages in some municipalities outside of Council territory are inhabited mostly by Serbs. Some of these villages are Srijemske Laze
Srijemske Laze
Srijemske Laze is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D46 highway....
, Šidski Banovci, Vinkovački Banovci
Vinkovački Banovci
Vinkovački Banovci is a village in Croatia in the region of Syrmia. It is inhabited mostly members of the Serbian minority. The first word of its name is an adjective for Vinkovci that distinguishes it from the adjacent village of Banovci.-Education:...
, Orolik
Orolik
Orolik is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D46 highway....
, Klisa
Klisa
Klisa is a neighborhood of the city of Novi Sad in Serbia.-Name:Its name derived from Latin word "ecclesia", meaning "church place"...
, etc.
In 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...
there is a Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia, which was established in February 5, 1998.
Request for the recognition of special status
Although Erdut AgreementErdut 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...
guaranteed existence of the Council as a legal entity, its function is still not clearly defined. Since the end of the war until 2010 Council functioned just as an association of municipalities. In this period, Government was also required to fund its work (which is also its commitment according to the position of the Security Council), but the legal position of the Council was below level anticipated by the decision of the Croatian Government
Government of Croatia
The Government of the Republic of Croatia , commonly abbreviated to Croatian Government , is the main element of the executive branch of government in Croatia. It is led by the President of the Government , commonly abbreviated to premier...
. Specifically, by the decision on the establishment of Council, Council is legal entity, as all other state public institutions and structures at all levels which have that status. In 2010, Croatian parliament
Parliament of Croatia
The Parliament of Croatia or the Sabor is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and legislature of the country. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, represents the people and is vested with the legislative power...
decided about amendments to the Constitutional Law related to National Minorities Rights. According to the proposal, the Council was to become a special administrative unit of Croatia that would be located in the territory of two counties. The proposed article of the constitutional law was In the area of Vukovar-Syrmia and Osijek-Baranja County, in accordance with the Basic Agreement on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium of 12 November 1995. (Erdut Agreement) and the Letter of Intent of the Croatian Government of 13 of January 1997., operates the Joint Council of Municipalities as a legal entity. Due to opposition from certain members of parliament, this part of bill was taken off the ballot. This decision provoked a very heated debate in parliament. Opponents of the adoption of this proposal have argued that this creates a kind of local government with no parallel in the rest of the country, although they did not explained why it would be unacceptable. Reply of Milorad Pupovac
Milorad Pupovac
Milorad Pupovac , is Croatian politician and linguist. He is member of Sabor and president of Serb National Council.-Education:...
, MPs of the Serbian national minority, to this claim was extremely sharp. He condemned the MPs who were willing to recognize the full independence of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, while objecting to recognize the autonomy of the local Serbian community. However, it was not clear what is the similarity between these two cases. In Kosovo, there was a separatist movement that fought for an independent state which should be independent of the decisions of Serbian government, whereas in the case of Council there is just a movement that advocates only local autonomy and that do not negates the other state institutions of Croatia. President of the Independent Democratic Serbian Party
Independent Democratic Serbian Party
The Independent Democratic Serb Party is a social democratic political party of Serbs living in Croatia.-History:It was formed in 1997 as a liberal/social-democrat party said to be based on the doctrine of Svetozar Pribićević's Independent Democratic Party from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.The party...
Vojislav Stanimirović
Vojislav Stanimirović
Vojislav Stanimirović is Croatian Serb politician and president of the Independent Democratic Serb Party.-Biography:Stanimirović was born in Tovarnik near Vukovar. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at University of Belgrade....
said on this occasion that the speech MPs Vesna Pusić
Vesna Pusic
Vesna Pusić is a member of Croatian Parliament and one of the main speakers of the opposition Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats in the Parliament...
(President of the National Committee for Monitoring Accession Negotiations with EU and one of the most important member of HNS) stood out from every civilized level. At an emergency Council meeting that followed the day after the constitutional changes president Dragan Crnogorac condemned the statements of MPs Vesna Pusić
Vesna Pusic
Vesna Pusić is a member of Croatian Parliament and one of the main speakers of the opposition Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats in the Parliament...
, Ingrid Antičević Marinović, Josip Leko and Zoran Vinković. He also told We are not autonomists or separatists, we are legally elected representatives in local government and members of Council. Vesna Pusić
Vesna Pusic
Vesna Pusić is a member of Croatian Parliament and one of the main speakers of the opposition Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats in the Parliament...
explained her attitude later in weekly Novosti
Novosti (Croatia)
Novosti is a Croatian weekly magazine based in Zagreb. It is published by the Serb National Council , the main state-funded body concerned with promoting human rights and dealing with issues related to the ethnic identity and the participation of Serbs of Croatia in the Croatian society at large...
where she said she believe that Council should definitely exist but that it does not need constitutional protection. On the remark that she is not familiar that the Erdut Agreement is not temporary but permanent contract (which is in accordance with the opinion of the Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
from 2003), she said that this is not true, but she just does not think that this was a good proposal. For feedback of SDP
Social Democratic Party of Croatia
Social Democratic Party of Croatia , commonly referred to in Croatia as simply Social Democratic Party , is the largest centre-left political party in Croatia...
MPs Zoran Vinković how the Council presents a new SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia she said that she do not agree. Eventually a compromise was reached that the Council will receive preferred status, but it will be ensured only by an ordinary, not constitutional law. In fact, constitutional law can be changed only by a two thirds majority in parliament, while the common law can be repealed or changed by a simple majority.
Special activities
Annually, Council organizes the following cultural events: "Selu u pohode" (English: "Village Revisited"), "Međunarodni festival dečijeg folklora" (EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "International Festival of Child Folklore"), "Horsko duhovno veče" (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "Choir Spiritual Night") and "Izložba likovnog stvaralaštva" (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "The exhibition of fine art"). Organized by the Council, Veteran Football League
Veterans League of Joint Council of Municipalities
The Veterans League of Joint Council of Municipalities is an amateur competitive football league based in Croatia in the areas of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia. League is not part of the Croatian football league system...
brings together veterans of 10 soccer clubs, and there are also Council Chess Leagues and Shooting League. The Council also publishes monthly magazine Izvor (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "Source") and, in cooperation with Radio Television of Serbia
Radio Television of Serbia
Radio Television of Serbia or Serbian Broadcasting Corporation is the public broadcaster in Serbia. It broadcasts and produces a variety of news, drama, and sports programming through radio, television and the Internet. RTS is, since July 2001, a member of the European Broadcasting Union. RTS is...
and Radio Television of Vojvodina
Radio Television of Vojvodina
Radio Television of Vojvodina is the public broadcaster in the Serbian province of Vojvodina...
, it broadcasts twice per month an TV show named "Hronika Slavonije, Baranje i zapadnog Srema" (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "Chronicle of Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia"). Joint Council of Municipalities also collaborates with local minority media such as Radio Borovo
Radio Borovo
Radio Borovo is radio station of the Serbian national minority in the eastern Croatia. It has a local broadcasting license for the municipality of Borovo, Croatia. Radio Borovo is an independent radio station privately owned, registered as a limited liability company - "Rhapsody", with 75% of...
, and has a 25% stake in Radio Dunav in Vukovar.
On 23. May, 2011. Council was first time celebrate Day of the Joint Council of Municipalities. Marking began by laying flowers on the grave of the first President of Council, Milos Vojnovic at a New cemetery in 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...
. After that, in the hotel "Lav", ceremony took place. On this occasion, President of the Council Dragan Crnogorac stated; From this important date (note:date of establishment), Joint Council of Municipalities as an internationally recognized institution in Croatia work on preserving of rights and interests of the Serbs, their cultural and educational autonomy, Serbian traditions, customs, language and Cyrillic alphabet, but also work on reconstruction, development, improvement of the total life of all citizens and because of this is respected and stable partner of government and all entities that are committed to these values.
See also
- Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western SremEastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western SremEastern 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...
- Erdut AgreementErdut AgreementThe 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...
- United Nations Transitional Authority for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium
- Serbs of CroatiaSerbs of CroatiaVišeslav of Serbia, a contemporary of Charlemagne , ruled the Županias of Neretva, Tara, Piva, Lim, his ancestral lands. According to the Royal Frankish Annals , Duke of Pannonia Ljudevit Posavski fled, during the Frankish invasion, from his seat in Sisak to the Serbs in western Bosnia, who...
- Serb National Council
- Veterans League of Joint Council of MunicipalitiesVeterans League of Joint Council of MunicipalitiesThe Veterans League of Joint Council of Municipalities is an amateur competitive football league based in Croatia in the areas of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia. League is not part of the Croatian football league system...
- List of micro-regional organizations
- Francophone Association of Municipalities of Ontario
Further reading
- Minorities in Croatia-report, Minority Rights Group InternationalMinority Rights Group InternationalMinority Rights Group International is an organisation founded with the objective of promoting respect for the human rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples around the world...
(http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/469cbf8f0.pdf) - The Thorny Issue of Ethnic Autonomy in Croatia: Serb Leaders and Proposals for Autonomy, Nina Caspersen, London School of Economics and Political Science (http://www.ecmi.de/fileadmin/downloads/publications/JEMIE/2003/nr3/Focus3-2003_Caspersen.pdf)