(15 Jan 1998) Eng/Serbo-Croat/Nat

Croatia took control on Thursday of the last of its land held by Serbs, stretching authority over its entire territory for the first time since declaring independence in 1991.

The Croatian government took charge after a two-year transition period in which the territory, known as eastern Slavonia, had been under U-N administration.

This is the newly returned Croatian town of Vukovar.

On Thursday Vukovar and the rest of the area known as eastern Slavonia officially returned under Croatian control - the last swath of land taken by minority Serbs.

Croatia now has authority over its entire territory for the first time since declaring independence in 1991.

Minority Serbs staged a rebellion in Croatia as much of Yugoslavia splintered into separate and independent countries in 1991, seizing a third of the republic's territory.

Some of the bloodiest fighting took place in Vukovar, a once pretty town lying on the Danube, on the border with Serbia.

Buildings were reduced to rubble, and up to 10-thousand lives were lost during a three-month siege.

The government recaptured most of the lands in two swift 1995 offensives and had since focused its attention on regaining eastern
Slavonia.

The U-N had administered the area known as eastern Slavonia since November 1995, when Croats and rebel Serbs agreed to a two-year transition process that ended in the assumption of authority by Zagreb.

A train carrying Croatian and international officials arrived in Vukovar on Thursday for the official handover ceremony.

U-N officials are satisfied with the whole handover process because the area has become a rare example of territory changing hands peacefully through negotiation.

At the handover ceremony, Robert Gelbard, the senior U-S envoy to the region, praised Croatia for "significant progress" on the road to democracy.

But, he added, there were still important obligations to meet.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"By embracing the basic agreement, Croatia has acknowledged that it could not be whole and united unless it was also tolerant and diverse. We expect Croatia to fulfill its responsibility, to guarantee equal treatment and full protection of the rights of all Croatian citizens."
SUPER CAPTION: Robert Gelbard, U-S envoy to former
Yugoslavia

But Serbs, who ruled the area for more than six years, are anxious about the handover.

After the handover, an international mission of 180 observers will monitor the Croatian government's compliance with its commitments.

Re-establishment of government control has been gradual.

Most Serbs now have Croatian documents, and Croatia has introduced a currency and legal, health and education systems.

More than 70-thousand Croats, expelled from the area, are eager to return -- only about 75-hundred have come back.

On the other side are about 100-thousand local Serbs, who fear a
large-scale return of Croats would expose them to random vengeance
and discrimination.

Thousands already have departed for Yugoslavia.

This Serb family is moving out of Vukovar, but they say there is nowhere for them to go.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"(First woman) They have forced my husband out of this town."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"(Second woman walking through door) This is Croatian Democracy"
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

Croatia repeatedly has been told that integration into Western structures hinges on improving its poor record in terms of media freedom, human rights and minority rights.

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