ZAGREB, Dec 10 (Hina) - In definitely defining the border on Prevlaka Peninsula, Croatia will continue to insist "on symmetry both on land and sea", Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Tuesday. He explained that according to a protocol
signed today, an asymmetrical solution in Boka Kotorska Bay was a compromise which had made an agreement on temporary demarcation at sea possible.
ZAGREB, Dec 10 (Hina) - In definitely defining the border on
Prevlaka Peninsula, Croatia will continue to insist "on symmetry
both on land and sea", Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Tuesday.
He explained that according to a protocol signed today, an
asymmetrical solution in Boka Kotorska Bay was a compromise which
had made an agreement on temporary demarcation at sea possible.
#L#
Speaking at a news conference, Racan said that at the beginning of
negotiations Croatia had insisted on symmetry at sea as well, but
such a solution was not possible in the temporary regime, so "we
went along with a compromise solution".
"In attempts to... definitely regulate the border, Croatia will not
give up its right to insist on that," Racan said, stressing that it
was questionable whether Croatia could achieve this in an
arbitration process.
Recalling that the sea border between Croatia and Montenegro had
never been defined, Croatian negotiator Josko Paro said that
Croatia believed that negotiations should start from the
equidistant point in Boka Kotorska Bay, but the Montenegrin side
referred to historical circumstances.
A section of the bay from Cape Ostro to Konfin will be under joint
control. A special joint police crew will patrol the area in vessels
which will be provided by both countries in turn.
This is an area in which "(the former) Socialist Republic of Croatia
had never exercised authority," Paro said.
As far as the demilitarisation of the land area is concerned,
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said that the demilitarised area
would extend five kilometres into Croatia and three kilometres into
Montenegro.
According to Picula, Croatia "in 1998 already suggested such an
asymmetrical solution which has been adopted by this protocol".
The 32 articles and six annexes of the protocol establish the
jurisdiction of both countries on land and sea until an agreement on
an inter-state border is signed.
"This means that Croatia will assume the land region south-west of
Konfin, on the peninsula of Prevlaka, on December 15," Picula
said.
The protocol determines a special navigation regime through the
Boka Kotorska entrance which binds Yugoslav military vessels to
sail without engaging in exercises, demonstrating power, allowing
aircraft to land or take off from a vessel's deck, and without
stopping or anchoring, while submarines must navigate on the
surface.
Croatian Navy vessels will sail into the bay only in case of joint
exercises.
The Karasovici-Sutorina border crossing has been categorised in
the protocol as an international passenger and freight crossing
point, while the Vitaljina-Njivice crossing will be used for
international passenger traffic, Picula said.
The protocol also defines the border region. From the Croatian
side, the region includes Dubrovnik, Zupa Dubrovacka and Konavle,
and Herceg-Novi, Kotor and Tivat from the Montenegrin side.
Residents of the border area will be able to cross the border with
personal documents issued in border municipalities and stay on the
other side of the border for up to three days.
The protocol also regulates local police and customs cooperation,
as well as tourism, nautical and sports and fishing cooperation.
Also established is the cooperation of flight control towers in
Dubrovnik and Tivat airports, as well as the cooperation of
competent bodies for fighting fires, and search and rescue
operations at sea, and the protection of the sea and biological
resources from pollution.
Asked about the Mamula isle at the entrance to Boka Kotorska Bay,
Paro said that it belonged to Montenegro, and Croatia had never made
an issue of it.
Asked about the access of Croatian citizens to their property on the
other side of the border, Paro replied that the property issue was
not solved with the protocol, and that the issue of ownership had
never been contentious.
With regard to access to property at Prevlaka, Racan said that a
temporary restriction of movement was in effect due to the area
still being mine-infested.
"The Croatian government guarantees that land-owners will have
their property restored after the area has been cleared of mines,"
the prime minister said.
According to Paro, Croatia will receive maps of mine fields on
Prevlaka from Yugoslavia.
Racan stressed the role of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the
adoption of the temporary regime on Prevlaka.
(hina) lml sb