Island of Šarengrad
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Island of Šarengrad (Croatian: Šarengradska ada) is a Croatian island on the river Danube. As its name implies, it is situated close to the village of Šarengrad.[1]
During Yugoslavia the island was part of Croatia. In the Homeland war, Yugoslav People's Army and Serbian paramilitary occupied the island.
In 1992 Croatia became independent. By decision of the Badinter Arbitration Committee the borders between republics became the borders between the countries,[2][3][4][5] so Island of Šarengrad has officially become Croatian territory under Serbian occupation similarly to other parts of east Croatia.
In 1998 by a peaceful agreement Baranja and Eastern Slavonia were rejoined with Croatia, but the Island of Šarengrad together with Island of Vukovar has stayed under Serbian military occupation.
In 2002 the Serbian army opened fire from the island to the president of the Vukovar-Syrmia County, Nikola Safer, and his escort which included four children in time when he was going for a meeting with his colleague from Serbia. Although having had informal consent from Serbian officials, Croatian party had illegaly trespassed on the Serbian teritorry.[6][7]
In 2004 Serbia withdrew its army from the island, which has been replaced with Serbian police. Any citizen of Croatia can approach that island crossing the border Backa Palanka - Ilok, as any other foreign citizen can.
Official Serbian position is that because the Island of Šarengrad is nearer to east, Serbian coast of Danube, therefore it's a Serbian island. On the other side the official Croatian position is that the decision of the Badinter Arbitration Committee is final and without question so the island is a Croatian territory. International community respects AVNOJ borders, where middle of the Danube acts as a natural border dividing Croatia and Serbia, thus acknowledging Serbian possession of the island.
