21.   Beijing insists the island cannot have diplomatic relations with sovereign countries.

22.   Beijing considers Taiwan a rebel province without the rights and privileges of sovereign countries.

23.   Bouchard alluded to making Quebec a sovereign country, something he has acknowledged he was unable to convince a majority of Quebecers to support.

24.   But talk to us like a sovereign country.

25.   China said Saturday that plans by the bank to condition aid on clean government and honest business practices were an interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country.

26.   China said Sunday that such measures are an interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country.

27.   China has maintained its right as a sovereign country to deny visas to anyone it considers a security risk or whom it views as being opposed to U.N. principles.

28.   Croatia refused, claiming that the tribunal had no power to issue such orders to a sovereign country.

29.   Cossiga was the first foreign statesman to visit the newly sovereign country.

30.   EU officials admit privately however, that a sovereign country cannot be forced to join the currency.