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Countries Which Don't Exist (Self-Declared; Unrecognised; Etc.)

Sealand

Further to Min's previous post: -

History Of Sealand

During World War II, the United Kingdom decided to establish a number of military bases, the purpose of which was to defend England against German air raids. These sea forts housed enough troops to man and maintain artillery designed to shoot down German aircraft and missiles. They were situated along the east coast of England on the edge of the English territorial waters.

One of these bases, consisting of concrete and steel construction, was the famous royal fort Roughs Tower situated slightly north of the estuary region of the Thames River. In contrast to the original plan to locate the tower within the sovereign territory of England, this fortress was situated at a distance of approximately 7 nautical miles from the coast, which is more than double the then applicable 3 mile range of territorial waters; to put it briefly, this island was situated in the international waters of the North Sea.

After WWII ended, the troops were withdrawn from all bases by the British Admiralty. None of them was ever used by the United Kingdom again, leaving the forts deserted and abandoned. Except for the aforementioned fortress, the bases were subsequently pulled down. This resulted in the portentous uniqueness of the fortress. Fort Roughs Tower, situated at the high seas, had been deserted and abandoned, res derelicta and terra nullius. From a legal point of view, it therefore constituted extra-national territory.

The Birth of Sealand

This paved the way for occupation. On 2 September 1967, former English major Paddy Roy Bates formally occupied the island and settled there with his family. After intensive discussions with skillful English lawyers, Roy Bates proclaimed the island his own state. Claiming jus gentium, he bestowed upon himself the title of Prince and the title of Princess to his wife and subsequently made the state the Principality of Sealand. Roy Bates, henceforth Roy of Sealand, exerted state authority on the island and thus was an absolute sovereign. The royal family and other persons that have declared loyalty to Sealand have occupied Sealand ever since.

Initial Challenge to Sealand's Sovereignty

By late 1968, the British navy had become aware of the new situation off the coast of England. They were interested in terminating the state of affairs brought about by an error committed by the most senior military authorities without causing too much uproar.

Units of the navy entered the territorial waters claimed by Roy of Sealand. As he was aware of his sovereignty, Roy of Sealand threatened the navy by undertaking defensive activity. Shots were fired from Sealand in warning.
Since Roy of Sealand was still an English citizen, he was thus accused of extensive crimes in Britain and was summoned to an English court. The result of this lawsuit in Chelmsford, Essex was a spectacular success for Sealand's claim to sovereignty. In its judgment of 25 November 1968, the court declared that it was not competent in Roy of Sealand's case as it could not exert any jurisdiction outside of British national territory. This is the first de facto recognition of the Principality of Sealand. English law had ruled that Sealand was not part of the United Kingdom, nor did any other nation claim it, hence Prince Roy's declaration of a new Sovereign State was de facto upheld.

Building a New Nation

Seven years later on 25 September 1975, Roy of Sealand proclaimed the Constitution of the Principality. Over time, other national treasures were developed, such as the flag of the Principality of Sealand, its national anthem, stamps, as well as gold and silver coins launched as Sealand Dollars. Finally, passports of the Principality of Sealand were issued to those who had helped Sealand in some way, though they were never for sale.

Extension of Territorial Waters

On 1 October, 1987, Britain extended its territorial waters from 3 to 12 nautical miles. The previous day, Prince Roy declared the extension of Sealand's territorial waters to be a like 12 nautical miles, so that right of way from the open sea to Sealand would not be blocked by British claimed waters. No treaty has been signed between Britain and Sealand to divide up the overlapping areas, but a general policy of dividing the area between the two countries down the middle can be assumed. International law does not allow the claim of new land during the extension of sea rights, so Sealand's sovereignty was safely "grandfathered" in. Britain has no more right to Sealand's territory than Sealand has to the territory of the British coastline that falls within its claimed 12 nautical mile arc.

Some nations might have tried to use this as an excuse to try to claim all of the territory of the weaker and not well recognized nation regardless of international law, however, this has not been the case. Britain has made no attempt to take Sealand, and the British government still treats it as an independent State. Prince Roy continues to pay no British National Insurance during the time he resides on Sealand subsequent to a ruling by the British Department of Health and Social Security's solicitor's branch. Also, there was another fire arms incident in 1990 when a ship strayed too near Sealand and warning shots were again fired. The ship's crew made complaints to British authorities and a newspaper article ran detailing the incident. Yet despite Britain's severe prohibition of firearms, British authorities have never pursued the matter. This is a clear indication that Britain's Home Office still considers Sealand to be outside their zone of control.

sauce
 
Biafra

Further to Carole's previous post: -

You are here at this website by accident, or by design. If the latter, then it is especially imperative that we reach you. You have been, or will be, exposed to all manner of information, misinformation and disinformation on your search for Igbo-Biafra artifacts. WE must therefore leave you here with essential landmarks for purposes of your orientation on your search-trip.

1) Biafra is a matter of survival—the survival of a people, the Igbo Nation. The threat to Biafra comes from Nigeria: the politics of “one Nigeria,” and the people of Nigeria, most especially the Hausa-Fulani of Northern Nigeria.

2) The Biafran War of 1967-70 was a war of survival for Biafra from the Biafran side, and a war of genocide from the Nigerian side—genocide by Nigeria against the Biafran Nation.

3) While the war of 1967 appears to have been lost by Biafrans, the fact that Biafra and Biafrans are still alive today attests to the success of survival against all odds.

4) Since the threat to the survival of Biafra still exists even today, in the year 2002, just as ominously as it did in the 1960’s, Biafra will continue to act to liberate herself and her people from the murderous clutches of “one Nigeria.”

5) The war of survival will necessarily involve several skirmishes over time and space. It ends with the elimination of, or full protection from, the threat; or the total demise of such oppressed. We Biafrans have no intention of becoming extinct at the hands of Nigeria. We shall assure our victory and the end of the threat to our survival by actualizing a Sovereign Independent Nation of Biafra.

sauce
 
Flanders

The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (New-Flemish Alliance - N-VA) is a young political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. Being the continuator of the Volksunie (1954-2001), she is however based on an established politicial tradition. The N-VA works towards the same goal as her predecessor : to shape a humane Flemish-nationalism in a contemporary way.
In the political sphere, the N-VA pleads for a Flemish republic, member state of a democratic European confederation. The party believes that the challenges of the 21st century can best be answered from strong communities on the one hand and from a well developed international cooperation on the other hand. The Belgian governmental level will evaporate between these two poles, already it is at odds with an efficient administration.

Otherwise the N-VA defends the right of self-determination of peoples as a fundamental principle of international law, described in article 1 of the charter of the United Nations. According to international law, Flanders meets all requirements to become a state : a permanent population; a territory with distinct external borders; a directly elected parliament with a thereby appointed government; an international recognition as (member)state through treaties already concluded with other countries.

A smaller state with a strong communal sense can safely confront the world. It is no coincidence that smaller, well run countries perform best concerning prosperity and welfare. The Flemish people should not underestimate themselves : with 6 million we approximately end up in 95th place out of circa 193 countries in the world; with its gross national product Flanders is economically in 24th position.

The political views of the N-VA are not a goal by itself, but an instrument to take care of prosperity, welfare and cultural development of all inhabitants of Flanders in the best possible way. The Flemish state is the framework for a strong corporate sense, for a community that attaches great importance to values. Society needs intangible values as much as material ones, this runs like a continuous thread through the social vision of the N-VA.

sauce
 
Scotland

The SNP (Scottish National Party) is a democratic left-of-centre political party committed to Scottish Independence. It aims to create a just, caring and enterprising society by releasing Scotland's full potential as an independent nation in the mainstream of modern Europe.

The party has been at the forefront of the campaign for Scottish self-determination for almost seventy years. The evolution of the SNP has been paralleled by the political evolution of Scotland herself — from an almost totally unionist country to a nation on the brink of independence.

The Scottish people have invested a lot in their Parliament but there is a growing realisation that, although devolution was a job worth doing, it is a job half done.

The SNP exists to argue the case for completing the powers of the Scottish Parliament and returning Scotland to the normal status of an independent country. Independence means Scotland will have a direct voice in Europe and the international community, and the power to tackle Scotland’s social and economic problems by making Scotland’s wealth work for Scotland’s people.

sauce
 
Mann

MEC VANNIN POLICY SUMMARY

Updated February 2003

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To achieve national independence for Mann as a sovereign state, based on a republican form of government.
To further and safeguard the interests of Mann.

To protect the individual and collective rights of its people.

CONSTITUTION

The national independence of Mann would require the restructuring of governmental responsibility and constitution. Tynwald would be retained, but headed by a President who is elected by direct universal suffrage. Whilst Tynwald may still comprise two houses, there would be no non elected members to these houses. Election to the Legislative Council would be by popular vote. As all "Crown" appointments are abolished, Tynwald and the President would take sole responsibility for National Government.

All Tynwald members would be required to publicly declare their financial interests and external affiliations.

The Manx Government would take direct responsibility for its international affairs and negotiate its own relationship with the E.U..

Local Authorities would be retained with full power to manage their own affairs.

sauce
 
Ulster

Ulster Nation seeks to advance the cultural, social, economic, and political well-being and independence of the Ulster people by all honourable means. Thus, the central idea that drives our supporters is the redemption of our independence as a nation. We envision a free and prosperous sovereign Ulster state founded on private property, free association, fair trade, sound money, equal justice before the law and secure borders. A bold, self-confident civilisation based in large part on its cultural and ethnic Ulster-Scots roots, without ignoring the contribution of Ulster-Gaels.

As a means of making real our vision of an independent Ulster state, Ulster-nationalists must firstly revitalise our largely Ulster-Scots culture. Without a strong cultural base, Independence will be difficult to attain. But to strengthen Ulster's culture, we must overcome the mis-education of our people by undertaking a campaign to educate them about the true history of Ulster in particular and this island in general.

To recreate our society, we should encourage the growth of largely self sufficient communities among our people. We can develop healthy local communities and institutions by abjuring the realm - seceding from the mindless materialism and vulgarity of contemporary Anglo-American society. To stimulate the economic vitality of our people, we must become producers and not just consumers. By establishing BUY ULSTER campaigns and by forming trade guilds or associations, we can begin to wean ourselves from economic dependency on the Irish Republic and Great Britain. By encouraging the use of private sources of finance, we can begin to break our financial dependency on those who may seek to do us harm.

Once we have planted the seeds of cultural, social and economic renewal, then we can really begin to look to our Ulster Homeland's political renewal. Political independence will come only when we have convinced Ulsterfolk that they are indeed a nation in the organic, historical and Biblical sense of the word, namely, that they are a distinct people with a language, mores and folkways that separate them from the rest of the world. Ulster Nation gives editorial support to the registered political party, Ulster Third Way.

Who said it was going to be easy?

Ulster
 
Western Canada

What is the Western Canada Concept ?

Founded in 1980, the Western Canada Concept stands for:

Independence for Western Canada, chosen by the people of each of the four Western provinces and northern territories in a referendum.

A citizen's constitutionally established right of reasonably accessible referendum, initiative and recall.

Protection for the sanctity and safety of human life, property and security of the person and their fundamental freedoms.

An end to immigration to preserve our environment, culture and stability.

Equal rights for all, with no special status for any race, or ethnic origin.

Preservation of our Christian culture and European heritage.

A two-house legislature, one elected by population the other by region, both with original legislative jurisdiction and both required to approve before a law was enacted.

One official language of Western Canada.

The establishment of a balanced budget by law under the constitution so no future debts can be incurred by government.

sauce
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/t ... 491257.stm

Somaliland's missing identity

There are almost 200 official countries in the world but there are dozens more unrecognised nations determined to be independent. They have rulers, parliaments and armies, but they rarely feature on maps and receive few foreign visitors.

Somaliland's government minister for tourism was elated that he finally had a rare foreign visitor he could take to see his country's national treasures

"Don't worry," said the enthusiastic minister, as I reluctantly agreed to accompany him to some rock etchings recently discovered at Laas Ga'al outside Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland.

"The drawings are beautiful, and it will just be a small detour from the road!"

As we bumped along potholed dirt tracks through the parched African bush, I started to think my scepticism was justified.

But we dodged wiry bushes on a wide plain and scrambled over vast boulders to find exquisite rock paintings dating back thousands of years.

Even under the scorching sun, the paintings had strong, vibrant colours and stark outlines, showing the ancient inhabitants of the area worshipping cattle.

Laas Ga'al, it transpires, is probably the most significant Neolithic rock painting site in the whole of Africa.

Off the map

For a brief moment I felt like an explorer finding hidden treasures, at a time when the entire world seems within easy reach.

But there are still places off the beaten track, like Somaliland, which can excite and amaze.

Somaliland is not on many tourist maps. In fact, it is not on any maps at all.

According to the international community, Somaliland does not even exist.

Across the globe there are dozens of unrecognised countries, and I embarked on a journey to a group of them who declared independence after conflicts with a neighbouring state.

In the case of Somaliland, that is Somalia and with a BBC film crew I began several months of travel by flying into a dusty airstrip just outside Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

Mr Big Beard

Years of fighting have destroyed once-beautiful Mogadishu.
Abandoned by the international community, it is among the most dangerous cities in the world.

After paying a dozen guards to provide protection, I went to the main market and bought myself a Somali passport from a gentleman called Mr Big Beard.

Although Somalia has no police or real government, the rest of the world recognises it as an official country.

By contrast Somaliland, in the north of Somalia, has a government, police, army and traffic lights, but no recognition, making it extremely difficult for the country to attract aid and investment.

Warring nations

A UN cargo flight took us north to Somaliland, and a smartly dressed Somaliland immigration official stamped our passports when we landed.
His presence and uniform was an immediate sign of order.

Britain is the former colonial power in Somaliland, and Somalilanders fought alongside British troops during World War II.

They struggle to understand why the UK has not recognised their country.
Yusuf Abdi Gabobe, my towering local guide, explained that Somaliland voluntarily joined with Somalia after independence from Britain.
But when the relationship soured, Somalilanders fought a war for complete independence in the 1980s.

Visiting Somaliland was a humbling lesson in survival and self-determination.

Hargeisa, where 50,000 died during the conflict, is being rebuilt with little outside help, and refugees are returning from camps in Ethiopia.

A Somali MiG jet that bombed the city sits atop a poignant war memorial.
Outside Hargeisa there were the ancient rock paintings to visit, and stunning journeys into the mountains and up to the port of Berbera, home to a runway hired by Nasa as an emergency space shuttle landing strip.
Tracks run along the coast west from Berbera towards Djibouti, and mangroves, gorgeous islands and coral reef.

But Somaliland's main attraction is its determined and inspirational people. Largely ignored by the world, they are building an independent state from scratch.

Many fear war between Somalia and Somaliland could erupt again, but perhaps one day the people of the Horn of Africa will have the peace and security they desperately want, and foreign visitors will start to return.
It is nothing less than Somalilanders and Somalis deserve.

Places That Don't Exist: Somaliland will be broadcast on Wednesday 4 May, 2005 at 1930 BST on BBC2, and the series continues every week until Wednesday 1 June, 2005. Next week: Transdniestria.

(c) bbc 05

(this might be the right place for this?)
 
Yep, this is the right place alright, Melf - thanks for posting that.
 
I was talking to my old boss a couple years back...for some reason, we got on the subject of actor George Hamilton. He told me Hamilton used to do commercials for a car company that promoted the car's "fine Corinthian leather". I said, "so?" He responded with, "have you ever heard of a country named Corinthia?" ;)

Thanks for posting the info about the different regions...very interesting to read about them. Looks like Taiwan's doing the best out of all of them.
 
Actually, I thought George Hamilton was made of fine Corinthian leather.
 
A few years ago, a company was producing what they called "Replacement"passports. They were quite expensive, and had the look and feel of a genuine passport. They bore the names of Zanzibar or Rhodesia and two other places that I can't remember. The idea of them was that if you were Hi-jacked while travelling, and terrorists collected up the passports of the prisoners ( to find out the nationality ) you could hand over the dummy one, and thus avoid being the next Ken Bigley.
It was not illegal to make or own these as they were from non existent territorities.
 
Hawaii said:
I was talking to my old boss a couple years back...for some reason, we got on the subject of actor George Hamilton. He told me Hamilton used to do commercials for a car company that promoted the car's "fine Corinthian leather". I said, "so?" He responded with, "have you ever heard of a country named Corinthia?" ;)

er corinthia is a region of austria, it has or had the lovely jorg haider as it's governor :p
 
Esoterrorist said:
Hawaii said:
I was talking to my old boss a couple years back...for some reason, we got on the subject of actor George Hamilton. He told me Hamilton used to do commercials for a car company that promoted the car's "fine Corinthian leather". I said, "so?" He responded with, "have you ever heard of a country named Corinthia?" ;)

er corinthia is a region of austria, it has or had the lovely jorg haider as it's governor :p

Didn't know that...is the region known for their fine leathers? ;)
 
Corinth, on the other hand, is a region in Greece that was known for its fine leathergoods four thousand years ago.
 
Trans-Dniester pins hopes on vote

By Helen Fawkes
BBC News

Trans-Dniester, a breakaway republic, is holding its fourth parliamentary elections on Sunday.
The vote is unlikely to lead to any serious political change, but the separatists who run Trans-Dniester hope it will help to end its isolation.

The Russian-speaking area declared itself to be independent from the republic of Moldova 15 years ago.

A bloody conflict followed which claimed hundreds of lives. The border is now patrolled by Russian soldiers.

Moldova - and the world - do not recognise elections that are held in Trans-Dniester.

The vote is being shunned by official observers.

Representatives of foreign governments including Russia, as well as large international organisations, are not sending monitors.

Much of the media is controlled by the authorities and there little freedom of speech in this breakaway state.

The European Union's foreign policy chief earlier highlighted the absence of the conditions needed for a free and fair election.

It is expected that most of the seats will be won by supporters of the self-proclaimed president - 179 candidates are contesting 43 seats.

It is unlikely that the vote will be followed by mass protests like Ukraine's Orange Revolution as there is little support for the opposition.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/europe/4517908.stm

Published: 2005/12/11 03:58:51 GMT

© BBC
 
sealand blaze

Principality Notice
Principality Notice 027/06 Temporary arrangements following incident

23 June 2006

The Principality regrets to inform the general public that due to a fire in the generation facility of the Fortress structure it has been necessary temporarily to evacuate all civilian residents to alternative accommodation as a matter of safety. This situation is expected to continue for the next 96 hours, and an update will be issued within this time.

All industries have been alternatively accommodated and services are functioning according to backup contingency plans which have been put into place.

The Principality wishes to extend its thanks to the UK Coast Guard Harwich Harbour Authority and other emergency services for their assistance.

sealand statement
local news report
 
Abkhazia, the country that doesn't exist, prepares to follow Kosovo's example

Underneath the red, white and green Abkhazian flag, border guards check documents on the bridge over the river Psou, just outside the Russian city of Sochi.

"Welcome to Abkhazia," says a hirsute official, wearing military fatigues and smoking a slimline cigarette. "Enjoy your stay in our country."

Abkhazia has a president, a flag, a national anthem and even a visa system for foreign visitors but the country doesn't appear on any maps. Officially, this small piece of sub-tropical Black Sea coastline with a population today of about 170,000, is a province of Georgia.

But since a vicious war in the early 1990s, it has been functioning as an independent state and, in the aftermath of Kosovo's independence, the Abkhazians hope their statehood will be recognised by the international community.

Shortly after Kosovo declared independence, the Abkhazian parliament, located in a seafront building in the capital, Sukhumi, issued a call for international recognition.

"After the recognition of Kosovo by many Western states, the geopolitical situation has significantly changed," read the parliament's statement. "Any legal decision has a universal character... All people have the same rights to freedom and independence."

On the seafront promenade, in the shadow of war-damaged buildings, old men while away the days drinking Turkish-style coffee and playing chess and backgammon. "Why is Kosovo any better than Abkhazia?" asked one. "It's exactly the same situation. We're a small country trying to stand on our own two feet."

The local papers are awash with Kosovo headlines and accusations that the West is engaging in "double standards" by recognising Kosovo but not Abkhazia. Western countries have said that Kosovo is a unique case, voicing support for Georgia's "territorial integrity", and a resolution to the Abkhazian conflict that does not alter Georgia's official boundaries.

Abkhazia's main hope for recognition is Russia. Vladimir Putin has hinted on several occasions that if the West recognised Kosovo, Russia may recognise Abkhazia and three other "breakaway states" on former Soviet soil.

Russian support has been a lifeline for Abkhazia for many years, a fact that has irked Georgia and been a key factor in the poor relations between Moscow and Tbilisi. At the Psou border crossing, Abkhazian women wheel in trolleys of goods from Russia. to sell in Abkhazia. Almost everything on sale in the republic comes from Russia, save a few bootleg goods from Turkey. Russian peacekeepers are stationed in Abkhazia, the rouble is used, and Moscow has issued Russian passports to Abkhazians who want them. In the past two years, Russian tourists have flocked back to the hotels along Abkhazia's palm-fringed beaches.

Immediately after the Kosovo declaration of independence, Russia went one step further and lifted economic sanctions on Abkhazia. In reality, Moscow has long turned a blind eye to cross-border trade with Abkhazia but the full legalisation of trade will make things easier for the Abkhazians.

more here...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/e...repares-to-follow-kosovos-example-799033.html
 
And there was the nasty country of Baldavia (sometimes spelled Boldovia), which occasionally served as a stand-in for Nazi Germany in pre-World War Two American radio programs and comic strips.
 
There is also my favourite - "Craplakistan" from the movie "Team America" and "The Dutchy of Grand Fenwick" from the Peter Sellers movie "The Mouse that Roared". Very funny stuff!
 
There's also a very old joke - and that especial rarity a sung joke! - in which the first line of the Russian national anthem is supposed to be:

"O! Pissonia! O! Shiddonia!"

This apparently dates from Czarist days.
 
Tiny Shetland Island Declares Independence

Tiny Shetland island declares independence

Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:17pm BST

By Kate Kelland

LONDON (Reuters) - The owner of a tiny island in off Scotland declared its independence from the United Kingdom on Saturday, saying he wanted the territory, population one, to be a crown dependency like the Channel Islands.

In a declaration on his Web site, Stuart Hill, who owns the 2.5 acre island of Forvik in the Shetland Islands in the North Sea, said he no longer recognised the authority of the government or the European Union, and cited a centuries-old royal marriage dowry deal as the basis for his claim.

"Forvik owes no allegiance to any United Kingdom government, central or local, and is not bound by any of its statutes," Hill wrote.

Hill, 65, has lived in the Shetland Islands on the edge of the Atlantic since 2001, when his boat capsized there during an unsuccessful attempted to circumnavigate Britain.

He is Forvik's only resident, and his home is a tent on the storm-battered island. He says on his website that he plans to create Forvik's own currency -- the "gulde" -- print his own stamps and raise his own flag.

"There will be no income tax, VAT (value added tax), council tax, corporation tax, or any of the other taxes instituted by the British government," Hill wrote.

Hill's claim dates back to a 15th century arrangement between the Norwegian King Christian and King James III of Scotland when the Shetland Islands were effectively pawned to King James in lieu of a marriage dowry.

According to Hill's studies of the history of the island, in 1669 King Charles II re-confirmed Shetland's status at the time of the pawning, meaning the islands remained directly answerable to the crown -- represented today by the Queen.

"The monarchs and governments of Scotland, and Great Britain and the United Kingdom have for many years assumed powers over these islands of Shetland to which they were not entitled," he wrote.

"By declaring Forvik a crown dependency I am simply re-establishing the correct legal relationship between this part of Shetland and the crown.

Hill said he had written to the Queen offering his services as "steward" and recognising her as head of state.

"I also invite anyone from any country in the world, who supports these aims, namely to become free of liars, thieves and tyrants in government, to become a citizen of Forvik," he added.

uk.reuters.com
 
Hi Whistling Jack,

Nice list, to augment it I stumbled recently upon a list of 'flags of formerly independent states' in wiki -

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Flags ... ent_states


It should have a few new places to add to you list.

Also, I'm forever looking out to find opportunities to be a right pedantic scot, so, if you have Scotland in a list of non-existant countries, then logically England should be there too :D
 
It's been a long time since I looked at this topic but I think I included Scotland as there's an actual move for independence there, whereas you can't really say the same south of the border ;)
 
We English would quite like freedom from our Scottish PM, Chancellor, Defence Secretary, Secretary for Intl. development. - Not to mention incessant whinging about the English yoke.
 
Does Frisia count?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisia

Though officially a part of The Netherlands it has it's own language and culture. There are Frisians who would like to keep the natural gas reservers for themselves instead of letting most of the money flow to the rest of The Netherlands.

There's evan a Frisian wikipedia:

http://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friezen

They have aregional political party:

http://www.defriezen.nl/

There's a parody on Frisian nationalism on youtube - but Frisian nationalism is nothing like that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgEuuxeU5cQ
 
Uqbar.
Or, indeed, Tlön.

Magnificent.
 
theyithian said:
We English would quite like freedom from our Scottish PM, Chancellor, Defence Secretary, Secretary for Intl. development. - Not to mention incessant whinging about the English yoke.

Ah, but would you like an English PM, Chancellor, Defence Secretary and Secretary for Intl. Development who were English within a British state, or an English one?

We'd also like freedom from the incessant whinging about how we bleed you dry of your tax money! ;)

DeeDeeTee said:
Also, I'm forever looking out to find opportunities to be a right pedantic scot, so, if you have Scotland in a list of non-existant countries, then logically England should be there too

Wales too, if it isn't on the list. And Cornwall!
 
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