SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia
SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem (Serbian: SAO Istočna Slavonija, Baranja i Zapadni Srem / САО Источна Славонија, Барања и Западни Срем) or Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem was an Serbian autonomous region (oblast) in Croatia. It was one of the two SAO's that formed the Republic of Serbian Krajina in 1991. SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem included geographical regions of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem.
History
Like the SAO of Krajina it was developed by the Serbian National Council, but was the one representing Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem. It was created in response to Croatia and Slovenia declaring independence on June 25, 1991. The SAO was declared on June 25, and on June 26 its first president was declared to be Goran Hadžić.
The region was part of the Republic of Serbian Krajina between 1991 and 1995. It later went on to be under UN Administration under UNTAES (in 1995), while it was peacefully reintegrated into Croatia (in 1997). It was sometimes called 'Podunavska Krajina' by Serbs or 'Croatian Podunavlje' by Croats, while the name used for it between 1995 and 1997 was 'Srem-Baranja Oblast'.
Population
The population of this area was ethnically mixed. Before the war, it was composed of 90,454 (47%) Croats, 61,492 (32%) Serbs, and 40,217 (21%) others.
Cities
Main cities in the area were Vukovar and Beli Manastir.
Municipalities
During the existence of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, the region was divided into five municipalities: Beli Manastir (in Baranja), Dalj and Tenja (in eastern Slavonia), and Vukovar and Mirkovci (in western Srem).