(19 Jun 1996) Eng/Serbo-Croat/Nat
A tiny strip of land on the Dalmatian coast is perhaps the final obstacle preventing the rump Yugoslavia from recognising Croatia.
The Prevlaka peninsula is a stretch of Croatian coastline overlooking the Bay of Boka Kotorska - Yugoslavia's only natural port and the base of its navy.
APTV visited the disputed territory where UN troops continue to form a buffer between the rival states.
It's here at the Bay of Boka Kotorska that old rivalries between Serb-led Yugoslavia and Croatia continue to smolder.
The bay belongs to Montenegro, the only state that chose to remain with Serbia within the structure of the old Yugoslavia.
Both Serbia and Montenegro are determined they must control all sides of the bay.
To do this they need Cape Ostro, the tip of Croatia's Prevlaka peninsula.
To keep the rivals at bay, UN peacekeepers have established a buffer zone on the strategic cape.
Bitter at the Serbian assault on nearby Dubrovnik and the occupation of part of Prevlaka, the Croatians see no reason to cede territory.
But the Bay of Boka Kotorska is the only natural port belonging to Serbia and Montenegro.
It's here that the alliance that continues to call itself Yugoslavia bases its navy.
And Serb-led Yugoslavia insists it needs Cape Ostro to ensure the safety of its fleet.
But the Croatian authorities are making it clear they have little interest in giving away territory to their former adversaries.
SOUNDBITE:
This is still an open issue in relationship between the present states, independent states in the area. However, there are not sufficient reasons and ground to challenge the existing boundaries. Boundaries in this area has been already identified in very precise manner in 15th century. Since this existing boundaries were confirmed by international community and by Security Council of UN, there is no way whatsoever to be challenged
and to modified.
SUPER CAPTION: Dr Hrvoje Kacic, Chairman of Croatian border committee
The village of Vitaljina, the main community in the peninsula, still shows the scars of the fighting.
The inhabitants want to stay within Croatia.
As in much of the Balkans, people here have long memories.
Their land was expropriated by the Austro-Hungarians shortly before the First World War.
And they blame Serbs under the Yugoslav regime for failing to return what had been taken from them.
Andro Dangradovic is the oldest man in the village.
He was the owner of a big field in Prevlaka and has been fighting for 50 years to get it back.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"There have been 10 rulers in my life time that governed this are. No one of them took any care about people of Vitaljina and their right to Prevlaka which to them means the life itself. As rightful landlords, we demand from our own Croatian state now to
recognise our property and to give us the justice, since Serbs in previous regime took our land from us by force."
SUPER CAPTION: Andro Dangradovic
The fighting has stopped but those who took part in it are aware that the Prevlaka issue remains unresolved.
Perica Brailo is one such former soldier.
He doesn't rule out having to fight once more to defend his land.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"I laid down my rifle and took my agricultural tools instead. Life here has never been easy, but let's hope for some improvement. And if necessary - we can take our rifles again..."
SUPER CAPTION: Perica Brailo
Prevlaka remains a potential flashpoint in a volatile region.
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