enWell, I understand you and your point of view is right. We have to think about REAL nations not yet live. But we have to respect other specular situations too, small is not less respect. For example San Marino: they are NOT Italy. They have italian culture and language (as Ticino in Switzerland, but no one is thinking that swiss part is... italy), but a real important national story. Yes, San Marino is the fifth least-populous sovereign country in the world but it's the oldest constitutional republic still in existence today. Not only. During the early phase of the Italian unification process of the 19th century, San Marino served as a haven of refuge for numerous persons who were persecuted because of their support for Italian unity. In memory of this support, Giuseppe Garibaldi accepted the wish of San Marino not to be incorporated into the new Italian state. Well they are so close to Italy, but so proud for the independence too.

Actually I know this story, but I believe a separate nation (from ethnic point of view) has more rights to get independent than a part of the same (or almost the same) nation that got a bit separated for some historic reasons. I don't want San Marino to join Italy :) , don't treat my words as any offence, I just mean it's not fair play while Curds or Tibetians are not independent and San Marino is. It's just because it was much easier to get independence and to change borders in 19th century than now when borders are in fact frozen, but do you think national minorities should be glad because of that change in rules?

But what do you REALLY mean by "abolishing Belgium"? If it were divided into Wallonia and Flanders, then instead of one small country, you would have two even smaller? So what - to join Flanders to the Netherlands and Wallonia to France? So, what's next? To share Switzerland between Germany, France and Italy? To join Austria to Germany? To reunite Serbian-language post-Yugoslavian area??? Well, if you don't like small countries, what about autonomic territories like Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Gibraltar or Faeroe? If San Marino were to become a part of Italy, why Isle of Man shouldn't be a part of UK?

Do you know the answers???

i do like small countries its just the ting ones i find 'unusual...such as andorra, vatican san marino, they are like mini variations of there larger neighbours etc...many of the smaller ones you have to travel through one country to get there...whats the point....whereas jersey, guernsy and gibralter you can get there direct as they have indipendant borders!! (ie ways in and out that dont involve crossing another countries airspace!

techincally the isle of man is its own country, it was neurtral in ww2, it has its own parliment and laws, and issues its own stamps and passports! it is a 'crown dependency' wich is as far as i can dissern means 'that they have her maj (our Liz) as there head of state somewhat akin to canada and NZ et al but they are somewhat dependant on the uk mainland fr such things as gas, military aid etc...(though i could be wrong!)

re the kurds etc all wanting there own country, why not! 'the republic of kurdistan has a ring to it!'

So, what is your point? The existence of small countries doesn't really disturb anything. Moreover, they bring extra profits as tourist attractions (of course sometimes supported by low taxes on alcohol and tobacco, as in case of Andorra and San Marino :)).

...well its my opinion that they be abolished, however now you mention cheap booze...mmmmmmm your argument is a compeling one heheheheh


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