Please don t get us dragged in ontological disputes you ve been hanging with Director too much lately That s exactly what List of states with limited recognition piped as partially recognized state means and outlines in is lead a breakaway polity internal control support by majority of population limited international recognition UN membership the ability to enter many international relations Those who don t recognize it as sovereign naturally recognize status quo ante It isn t that complicated nor is Kosovo a really unique case Many today s countries e g former colonies started their sovereign existence in that way and yet many others ceased