evidence: U.N. peacekeepers take down the U.N. flag for the last time during the handover ceremony at southern Adriatic peninsula of Prevlaka, near ancient city of Dubrovnik, December 15, 2002. After the ceremony Croatia assumed its sovereignty over Prevlaka for the first time in the past 12 years. REUTERS/Nikola Solic [...] The U.N. recognized Prevlaka as a part of Croatia, but kept its monitors there before the two countries reached an agreement. The U.N. Security Council decided in October to disband the mission by Dec. 15, and the two countries subsequently agreed that Prevlaka remain Croatian territory, while Montenegro got control of the waters.