Ploče

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Ploče
Ploče harbor
Ploče harbor
Ploče (Croatia)
Ploče
Ploče
The location of Ploče within Croatia
Coordinates: 43°02′N 17°25′E / 43.033, 17.417
Country Croatia
County Dubrovnik-Neretva county
Government
 - Mayor Ante Karamatić (SDP)
Elevation m (0 ft)
Population (2001)
 - Total 10,834
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 20 340
Area code(s) 020
Licence plate DU
Website: ploce.hr

Ploče is a town and a notable seaport in the Dubrovnik-Neretva county of Croatia, population 6,537 (2001), total municipality population 10,834 (2001). Absolute majority of its citizens are Croats with 95.12% (2001 census).

Ploče is located on the Adriatic coast just north of the Neretva river delta and is as such the natural seaside endpoint of most north-south routes through the central Dinaric Alps. This makes it the primary seaport used by Bosnia and Herzegovina and the endpoint of the Pan-European corridor 5C.

Ploče harbour was first mentioned on November 6, 1387, but the building of a larger port waited until the modern times. The work on the present harbor area first began in 1939 but it was all destroyed in World War II. It was rebuilt beginning with 1945 and the village of Ploče grew to 480 inhabitants by 1948. After the Adriatic road and Neretva railway lines were built to the port in the mid-1960s, the town experienced a steady growth.

Ploče was named Kardeljevo after the Yugoslav politician Edvard Kardelj between 1950 and 1954 and again between 1980 and 1990.

Bosnia and Croatia are currently in negotiations as regards the establishment of a "privileged economic zone" for Bosnian businesses within the Ploče port facilities, though this development is hindered by the opposition of local government, and Croatian people to the concept of a partial loss of sovereignty over the port. The Bosnian government would like a concession, with sovereignty features, for at least 99 years, whereas the Croatian government only wishes to offer commercial passage through Croatian territory for Bosnian and Herzegovinian goods. This topic was a subject of lengthy negotiations; easier passage for Croatian citizens through narrow strip of Bosnia and Herzegovina territory (that divides Croatia's land territory) near Neum, in exchange for privileges for Bosnia and Herzegovina in Ploče. The proposed building of a bridge through Croatian territory (the Peljesac bridge), bypassing Neum and Bosnian territory completely may solve this problem, although this proposal is presently being strongly resisted by the Bosnian government.[citation needed]

The natives of this city call it Ploča.

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Coordinates: 43°03′N, 17°26′E