Version 0.1 Countries Ontology Created by Jenz & Partner GmbH Version 0.1, 28-FEB-2004 No government body exists. The territory is not or cannot be claimed by an independent country. Example: Antarctica is unclaimed resp. unclaimable territory. An Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims. No government body exists, or, if one exists, it is not given recognition by the annexing country. The territory has been unilaterally annexed by some independent country, usually as a result of occupation. The annexing country imposes its legislation on the annexed territory and considers it an integral part of its own territory. Example: The Western Sahara has been virtually annexed by Morocco. 1 1 An existing government body is only given limited recognition by the occupying country. The territory has been unilaterally (temporarily) occupied by some independent country, possibly as a result of war. The occupying country may impose its legislation on the occupied territory, and allow limited autonomy in the occupied territory. The occupied territory is not an integral part of the occupying country. Occupation may lead to formal annexation. Example: Dispute over Palestinian territory. Self-governing to some limited degree; considered an integral part of an independent country. Example: Christmas Island is a territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services. Christmas Island does not have the right to move to full independence by unilateral action. 1 1 A disputed state is regarded as an independent state by its own population (or at least the majority of them) and has been recognized as independent by some international body (e.g. the U.N.) at some point in the past. However, a disputed territory's status of independence is questioned by some other independent country/countries. Example: The Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China hold differing views on the sovereignty of Taiwan. A virtual territory does not exist in reality. Example: France, Metropolitan, is limited to the European part of France, excluding overseas territories. Fully self-governing and sovereign. A portion of legislative power may be transfered voluntarily to some other political body (e.g. the European Union) at the government's discretion. Example: The Federal Republic of Germany enjoys sovereignty and is self-governing. It is part of the European Union. The European Parliament is given authority to produce laws in certain fields, which are considered binding by every member. The International Standards Organization (ISO) maintains a list of country codes since 1974. Other standards bodies have adopted the ISO 3166 code list. 1 1 1 1 1 1 Self-governing in free association with some independent country. An assoiated state is neither occupied nor annexed, nor is its territory considered an integral part of the country it is associated with. Example: Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultation with the Cook Islands. Cook Islands has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action. 1 1 1 1 A political state or nation or its territory (see Merriam-Webster Dictionary). The presentation of the material in this electronic publication does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Jenz & Partner concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitations of its frontiers or boundaries. The name of the country in local language, using ISO-8859 characters. UN Numeric Code The date when an entry becomes effective. ISO 3166 Alpha 3 The date when a revocation of an entry becomes effective. The name of the country in the English language ISO 3166 Alpha 2