11.  Singapore seceded from the Federation of Malaysia and became an independent sovereign state.

12.  Membership was open to all Arab states including Palestine, which was considered to be an independent state.

13.  The centrepiece of the Arafat initiative was the creation of a UN-policed buffer zone between Israel and an independent Palestinian state.

14.  However, Syrian officials contended that with the signing of the treaty Syria had for the first time formally acknowledged Lebanon as an independent state.

15.  The following day the EC recognized Ukraine and Armenia as independent states, as they had offered written acceptance of the EC criteria for recognition.

16.  A growing rift was apparent between Iran and Turkey over competition for influence among the newly independent Central Asian states and over the future role and shape of ECO.

17.  A series of foreign visits and treaties during July furthered Romanian relations with the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union.

18.  The Greek action, based on opposition to the creation of an independent state using the name Macedonia, brought the republic to the verge of economic collapse.

19.  In August and September of the same year the Belgians rebelled against the Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent state.

20.  Now they have asked the Government of the newly independent former Soviet state to intervene.