Meanwhile, in 1965, the whites' leader, Ian Smith, declared formal independence from Britain.

ECONOMIST: Joshua Nkomo

The island's voters, who are increasingly satisfied with their economic lot, have been showing little inclination to plump for formal independence.

ECONOMIST: Impatient China

Things are going so well that Antonio Palocci, the finance minister, recently resurrected the unpopular idea of giving the central bank formal independence.

ECONOMIST: Small rows and better economic numbers

Kohl, who called Tudjman's presence an "informal working visit, " resisted making any statement that could be construed as a formal recognition of Croatian independence.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

However, Syria has recently sought to convey the impression that it respects Lebanese sovereignty and independence, and in October last year it agreed to establish formal diplomatic relations for the first time since the two former French Mandate territories became independent in the 1940s.

ECONOMIST: The road to Damascus

In the meantime, though, while making no formal plans for such an outcome, UK ministers argue that the consequences of independence would be catastrophic for Scotland.

BBC: Trident politics