Prevlaka
Prevlaka (Croatian pronunciation:
Because of its strategic location in the southern Adriatic, in the aftermath of the
Geography
The narrow, uninhabited peninsula is 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) long and only 150–500 metres (500–1,600 ft) wide, covering an area of 93.33 hectares (230.6 acres) (just under 1 square kilometre or 0.4 square miles).
The word prevlaka means
North of the Prevlaka isthmus, just within the Bay of Kotor, lie the two less prominent capes Konfin and Kobila,.
History
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: What has happened since 2006?.(July 2023) |
In 1806, during
Following Napoleon's defeat, former Ragusan territory including Prevlaka came under the rule of the Austrian Empire in 1813.[4] Austrian rule was ratified by the Congress of Vienna in 1815, and the territory became part of its newly created internal administrative subdivision, the Kingdom of Dalmatia. It remained as such after the transformation of Austrian Empire into the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary following the Congress of Berlin in 1867. Towards the end of the 19th century, on the suggestion of General Lazar Mamula, the Austro-Hungarian authorities decided to build a fort on Punta d'Ostro, along with another in the island of Mamula in order to ensure military control over the entrance into the Bay of Kotor. The Austrian authorities successfully fortified cape Mirište and the islet of Mamula.[2] The authorities reportedly also decided to compensate local farmers for the expropriated land, but no money was paid until the collapse of the dual monarchy.
In 1918, after the end of
World War II was the only period since the 15th century when the boundaries of Konavle were modified.
As World War II dragged on, in summer 1943, in response to the Allied advances in their
In 1955, the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) closed down access to Prevlaka because of its coastal artillery installations.[2]
During the
The Konfin/Kobila border crossing has operated since 1999.[6]
The UN mission ended in December 2002 and the territory that had previously been part of SR Croatia was returned to the Republic of Croatia. An agreement was signed by both sides five days before the departure of the UNMOP that demilitarized Prevlaka and effectively made it a neutral territory, though implementation still has a temporary character.[7]
In 2002, the two states agreed on a temporary solution stipulating that Croatia would receive the entire land mass of the Prevlaka peninsula including some 500 metres (1,600 ft) of the sea belt entrance into Boka Kotorska while the sea bay on the side of Prevlaka facing Herceg Novi was declared no man's waters.[8]
Montenegro became independent in 2006 and the temporary agreement remained in effect. In 2008, a mixed commission was created, tasked with preparing the legal case for the border settlement in front of the International Court of Justice at The Hague.[9] In search of the permanent border settlement, the two states have the option of settling the issue between themselves bilaterally or opting for the international arbitration.[10]
Gallery
References
- ^ "Yugoslavia and Croatia sign the protocol on Prevlaka". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Beta. 2002-12-10. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
- ^ a b c d e Blake & Topalović 1996, p. 43.
- ^ Blake & Topalović 1996, p. 46.
- ^ a b c d e f g Blake & Topalović 1996, p. 47.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-16-051502-6.
- ^ "Nakon otvaranja graničnih prijelaza Debeli Brijeg i Konfin" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 1999-01-22. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
- ^ "Yugoslavia and Croatia sign the protocol on Prevlaka". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Beta. 2002-12-10. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
- ^ Marinović, Milica (3 September 2013). "Spor Crne Gore i Hrvatske oko Prevlake" (in Serbian). Al Jazeera Balkans.
- ^ "Đukanović: Montenegro owes Croatia nothing". B92. Beta. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
- ^ Kiseljak, Martina (5 April 2013). "Spor Hrvatske i Crne Gore zbog Boke Kotorske" (in Croatian). Al Jazeera Balkans.
Sources
- Blake, Gerald Henry; Topalović, Duško (1996). Clive H. Schofield; Mladen Klemenčić (eds.). The maritime boundaries of the Adriatic Sea. IBRU. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-1-897643-22-8.