The least known capital city in Europe?

[bubach_hlubach]

I think Croatia is not very well known capital, for those who dont know - Croatia is the capital of the Republic of Zagreb

[wc eend]

how about san marino?

[Jonesy55]

Originally Posted by AZ2SI

The UK and the Republic of Ireland are the only countries (using the conventional definition of the word) on the British Isles. No international organization claims -- and could ever claim -- otherwise.

How about FIFA?

[pricemazda]

I love the way a bunch of foreigners seem to thinkthey know more about the constitutional set-up of the UK than native Brits whether they be English, Scottish or Welsh. The UK is not a federal system in any way shape or form. There are not 4 autonomous units but each country has a different settlement with the UK government with England having the least power over its own affairs.

The United Kingdom was formed by the accession of James VI of Scotland becoming James I of England thereby unifying the crown of England and Scotland. Both countries retain seperate Parliaments and nobility. In 1707 the Scottish Parliament voted on the Act of Union thereby dissolving the Scottish Parliament however it is a merger of the Kingdoms under one monarchy that is retained constitutionally.

The Queen is Elizabeth II of England and just Queen Elizabeth in Scotland as they have never had an Elizabeth I. Two countries united under one crown.

I cannot believe that foriegners think they have a better understanding on this than brits.

Scotland is considered a country

[VelesHomais]

Oh come on, stop with the bullcrap. Open up an atlas and find me a country that is named Scotland. The country is called United Kingdom. Scotland, Welsh, Northern Ireland and England are not independent countries! They don't have their embassies set up, they're not even members of the U.N. on each own, even Ukraine was member of U.N. since 1945 ( being part of the Soviet Union ) so they're even less of a country

[Zarkon]

[pricemazda]

Pan go to scotland and tell them they aren't a country.

You aren't even British you cannot possibly know what the constitutional arrangements here are. Technically, Scotland and England are 2 countries under one crown, hence the name the UNITED KINGDOM.

[snot]

United States, Bundesrepublik,...
Okay, Scotland is a EU member and didn't invade Irak. But it has a very special relationschip with the rest of the UK, but even London, of course center of the universe is not her Capital. Edinburgh is on the same level. Britain unification is a lie, British kolonies are a legend ( in reality Pakistan was from Scotland, India was from England), every atlas in the world is wrong and German states for example(independent much longer than scotland) are foreign states so no match with Scotland. BLA BLA
Oh, and Italian states only unificated in 1870 were also no real country's like Scotland.

[VelesHomais]

Maybe in Britain, the term "country" doesn't carry the same meaning we're discussing here.

In my opinion, "country" is independent, has diplomatic relations with foreign countries, has it's own military and head of state. Perhaps I missed out on some points, but generally speaking that's what a country is. And I don't need to go to Scotland to learn that it's not a country. I'm very well aware of every European country that exists today, Scotland is not one of them.

It could be that "country" in Britain is what "republic" is in Ukraine. Republic has all these things, parliament, flag, laws, constitution.. but it's part of a unified country.

[edolen1]

Originally Posted by pricemazda

You aren't even British you cannot possibly know what the constitutional arrangements here are.

That's the point, it doesn't matter what Scotland is from a domestic point-of-view, but from an international one. Scotland may be a country, but it is not a sovereign state. Meaning that it is not recognized as independent by any country in the world (except maybe Sealand) but is an entity within the United Kingdom.

If you look here, you can see that under United Kingdom, Scotland is classified as a NUTS-1 unit, meaning that by international standards, it is not a country (read: independent state).

[The Boy David]

Righty.

Scotland is a country folks, so cut the crap.

To say that Scotland, Wales or NI are not countries is a classic combination of total ignorance and general stupidity.

Just because Scotland is part of a greater union, that doesnt make it any less of a country than Germany or France! Just think about it!

So we share the same government (to a point) and currency with the rest of the UK. So what? Scotland always has been and always will be a separate entity.

You can challange this claim with as much politics and world geography as you like guys, but you will never desuade any citizens of the UK that Scotland, Wales and NI are not "real countries".


Indeed - us Scots especially will insist on Scotlands position not only as a proper country, but also as an important part of the world today.

[crusty_bint]

The United Kingdom is one Nation made up of three countries: Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. Wales was raped of its monarchy and autonomy by England centuries before the unification of Scotland and England and is reagarded a principality... hence the title "Prince of Wales". All you have to do is look at the Union Jack, it is composed of the flags of the three countries which make up the UK.

Also, the UK is not a federation so any comparison to between Scotland and Texas is a complete misnomer. This was aaaaaaaall covered in a topic in Skybar a while back.

Check you facts before you open your trap!

[crusty_bint]

Originally Posted by edolen1

Scotland... is an entity within the United Kingdom.

Scotland is a Country within the United Kingdom, as is England, and as is Northern Ireland. Email the UK Home Office if you need any more clarification on this point, I'm sure they'll be more than happy to oblige.

[VelesHomais]

Right, I forgot to add institute of citizenship to the list of factors that make up a country.

Unless Scotland establishes embassies in foreign COUNTRIES, has it's own citizenship, military and head of state - it is NOT a country.

I'm sure you want to believe that it's sovereign to an extend and I'm just as sure that it is an autonomous entity that does a couple of things on it's own.

But UNITED KINGDOM is a country made up of several nations. A country cannot be made up of countries. United Kingdom is not a "union", it's a COUNTRY.

I can't believe that people are discussing this on serious note. I thought that anybody starting with age 7 in Europe knows difference between a country ( United Kingdom ) and a state/republic ( Scotland )
note: you probably have a different word for state/republic.

Let's have a little geography lesson. Names of countries are written in green:

[VelesHomais]

Originally Posted by crusty_bint

The United Kingdom is one Nation

No, it's not.

Scotland and England are different nations, but one country.

[crusty_bint]

You've got it all wrong Pan! The United Kingdom is one Nation made up of three Countries. Scotland does have embassies in foreign countries, under the banner of the United Kingdom. I can't believe you have the gall to argue this point, anyone from the age of 5 in the UK knows that England, Scotland and Northenr Ireland are countries in thier own right: countries which are united as one nation. We don't regard ourselves as autonimous states, we ditched that way of thinking when we ditched feudalism.

The United Kingdom is three countries (and one Principality) under the banner of, and working together as one Nation. I don't see whats so difficult to comprehend here, its very simple!

[pricemazda]

I can't believe in the face of a number of Brits you still think you seem to know more about the constitutional set-up of the UK than us Brits.

Listen to what we are telling you.

Scotland is a country.

[crusty_bint]

Flash all the maps you want mate... look, heres another:

[Jimbob]

Lets make your little geography lessons official. because if kids were taught lessons from tourist maps, then possibly everyone would be wrong.
Maybe thats the case for you, when you were taught.
Your a self-righteous man with nothing to fight for.
Scotland is a country, hence its castle and flag, and people referred to as Scottish, and that if you are to wish a long life (Long Live Scotland) for our country scotland you should not be fighting air, you should be fighting those who threaten us, and will inevitably be, if not already, on our doorsteps threatening our freedom, which our forefathers have so heroicaly thought for for centuries..
BooYAH!

Is it just me guys? but can this guy not get a clue?

[wjfox]

Originally Posted by Pan_Stanislav

No, it's not.

Scotland and England are different nations, but one country.

*points and laughs hysterically at Pan_Stanislav*