natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
ob upoštevanju resolucij generalne skupščine Združenih narodov, še posebej resolucije št. 62/168 z dne 18. decembra 2007 o razmerah na področju človekovih pravic v Islamski republiki Iran, in resolucije 62/149 z dne 18. decembra 2007 o moratoriju pri izvajanju smrtne kazni,
having regard to the resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in particular Resolution 62/168 of 18 December 2007 on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Resolution 62/149 of 18 December 2007 on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty,
ob upoštevanju Mednarodnega pakta o državljanskih in političnih pravicah, Mednarodnega pakta o ekonomskih, socialnih in kulturnih pravicah, Konvencije o odpravi vseh oblik rasne diskriminacije in Konvencije o otrokovih pravicah, katerih podpisnica je Islamska republika Iran,
having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party,
ob upoštevanju člena 115(5) svojega poslovnika.
having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
ker je bilo po navedbah mednarodnih organizacij za človekove pravice Amnesty international letos v Iranu usmrčenih že vsaj 191 ljudi, medtem ko je bilo leta 2007 v tej državi izvršenih več usmrtitev (317) kot v kateri koli drugi državi na svetu, razen na Kitajskem, čeprav ima Iran osemnajstkrat manjše prebivalstvo kot Kitajska,
whereas, according to international human right organisations Amnesty international , the number of executions carried out in Iran so far this year totals at least 191, while in 2007 more executions were carried out in Iran – 317 – than in any other country in the world except China, although its population is 18 times smaller than China's,
ker je bilo v zaporu Evin v Teheranu 27. julija 2008 hkrati izvršenih 29 usmrtitev,
whereas 29 simultaneous executions took place in Evin prison in country-regioncountry-regionTehran on 27 July 2008,
ker je bil 10. junija 2008 usmrčen 16-letni iranski Kurd Mohanad Hasanzade za zločin, ki ga je zagrešil pri 14 letih; ker sta bila 22. julija usmrčena mladoletna prestopnika Hasan Mozafari in Rahman Šahidi, 19. avgusta pa je bil obešen 19-letni Reza Hezjazi zaradi domnevnega umora, ki naj bi ga zagrešil pri 15 letih; ker je bil 26. avgusta usmrčen 19-letni Behnam Zare za kaznivo dejanje, ki ga je zagrešil pri 15 letih, s čimer je postal šesti mladoletni prestopnik, ki je bil usmrčen v Iranu le v letu 2008,
whereas on 10 June 2008 16-year-old Mohannad Hassanzadeh, an Iranian Kurd, was executed for a crime he committed at the age of 14; whereas on 22 July juvenile offenders Hassan Mozafari and Rahman Shahidi were executed, and on 19 August 2008 19-year-old Reza Hezjazi was hanged for an alleged murder which he committed when he was 15 years old; whereas on 26 August 2008 19-year-old Behnam Zare was executed for an offence he committed at the age of 15, making him the sixth juvenile offender to be put to death in Iran in 2008 alone,
ker o uri in kraju načrtovane usmrtitve niso bili obveščeni ne družina Zarejeva ne Hezjazijeva niti odvetnik, s čimer je bila kršena iranska zakonodaja,
whereas neither Zare’s nor Hezjazi's family, nor the lawyer, were notified of the time and place of the scheduled executions, in violation of Iranian law,
ker mladoletnim prestopnikom Amirju Marolahiju, Behnudu Šodžaiju, Mohamedu Fadaiju in Bahmanu Solejmanjanu grozi skorajšnja usmrtitev,
whereas juvenile offenders Amir Marollahi, Behnood Shojaee, Mohammed Fadaei and Bahman Soleimanian face imminent risk of execution,
ker je usmrtitev mladoletnih prestopnikov prepovedana z mednarodnim pravom, kot je določeno v členu 6(5) mednarodnega pakta o državljanskih in političnih pravicah ter v konvenciji o otrokovih pravicah; ker je vsaj 130 otrok in mladoletnih prestopnikov, ki sedaj čakajo na izvršitev smrtne kazni, kljub pravnim obveznostim Irana,
whereas the execution of juvenile offenders is prohibited under international law, as stated in Article 6(5) of the ICCPR and the Convention on the Rights of the Child; whereas there are actually at least 130 children and child offenders on death row despite Iran's legal obligations,
ker so aktivisti za pravice manjšin vse bolj izpostavljeni grožnji smrtne kazni, kot je bilo pri primeru Jaguba Mernehada, ki je Baluči po narodnosti in je bil izvršni direktor združenja Voice of Justice Youth Association, saj je bil usmrčen 4. avgusta 2008, ker se je zoperstavil lokalnim uradnikom v javnosti, ko je zahteval odgovornost za njihovo slabo delovanje,
whereas minority rights activists are increasingly exposed to the threat of the death penalty, as in the case of Yaghoub Mehrnehad, an ethnic Baluchi and executive director of the Voice of Justice Youth Association, who was executed on 4 August 2008, after having confronted local officials in public demanding accountability for their poor performance,
ker je bil še en aktivist za pravice manjšin, in sicer kurdski učitelj Farzad Kamangar, obsojen na smrt na podlagi obsodbe brez dokazov, začel naj bi namreč oborožen upor proti državi,
whereas another minority rights activist, Kurdish teacher Farzad Kamangar, has been condemned to death on charges, without evidence, of taking up arms against the state,
ker so priznanja pogosto pridobljena z mučenjem, brez dostopa do odvetnikov, sodbe pa so izrečene brez minimalnih standardov pravičnega sojenja,
whereas confessions are often obtained following torture, without access to lawyers, and court rulings lack the minimum standards of a fair trial,
ker je 5. avgusta 2008 iransko sodstvo naznanilo ukinitev uporabe kamenjanja kot sredstva za usmrtitev, da 10 neimenovanih žensk ne bi bilo usmrčenih s kamenjanjem,
whereas, on 5 August 2008, the Iranian Judiciary announced the suspension of the use of stoning as a means of execution, with the consequence that 10 unnamed women facing death by lapidation would not be stoned,
ker so razlogi za skrb, da članom in nekdanjim članom iranske opozicije, ki so razvrščeni v taboru Ašraf v severnem Iraku, kjer jih ščitijo mednarodne sile pod vodstvom Združenih držav v skladu s členom 27 četrte ženevske konvencije, verjetno grozi izgon ali prisilna vrnitev v Iran, kjer bi jim lahko grozilo resno preganjanje in verjetno celo smrtna kazen,
whereas there are grounds for concern that members and ex-members of the Iranian opposition who are regrouped and protected in Camp Ashraf in Northern Iraq by US-led multinational forces under Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention may be under threat of being expelled or forcibly returned to Iran, where they could face heavy persecution and possibly even the death penalty,
je globoko pretresen zaradi nedavne usmrtitve več mladoletnih prestopnikov v Iranu, s čimer je Iran postal edina država na svetu, kjer se leta 2008 še vedno izvršuje ta resna in nehumana kazen;
Is profoundly saddened at the recent execution of several juvenile offenders in country-regionIrancountry-region, making country-regionIran the only country in the world where this grave and inhumane punishment is still practised in 2008;
namenja posebno pozornost usodi Soghre Nadžafpuri, ki skoraj vseh zadnjih 19 let svojega življenja čaka na smrtno kazen za umor, ki se je zgodil, ko je bila stara 13 let;
Draws particular attention to the fate of Soghra Najafpour, who has spent almost the entire past 19 years of her life on death row for a murder which took place when she was 13 years old;
poziva vodjo vrhovnega državnega sodišča ajatolo Mahmuda Hašemija Šarudija, naj sistematično spremeni vse smrtne kazni za mladoletne prestopnike, ter poziva iranske oblasti, naj predvsem zaustavijo usmrtitev Amirja Marolahija, Behnuda Šodžaija, Mohameda Fadaija in Bahmana Solejmanjana;
Calls on the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Sharoudi, to systematically commute all death penalties for juvenile offenders, and pleads with the Iranian authorities in particular to halt the execution of Amir Marollahi, Behnood Shojaee, Mohammed Fadaei and Bahman Soleimanian;
ostro obsoja vse večje število usmrtitev in poziva iranske oblasti, naj uvedejo moratorij na smrtno kazen z namenom njene ukinitve v skladu z resolucijo, ki jo je sprejela generalna skupščina Združenih narodov 18. decembra 2007;
Strongly condemns the growing number of executions, and urges the Iranian authorities to establish a moratorium on the death sentence with a view to abolishing the death penalty in accordance with the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 2007;
ponovno poziva poslance madžlisa, naj nujno spremenijo zakonodajo za zagotovitev, da ne bo nihče usmrčen zaradi zločina, ki ga je storil pred dopolnjenim 18. letom starosti, in naj povišajo starost pravne odgovornosti v skladu z mednarodnimi standardi;
Reiterates its call on the members of the Majlis to urgently amend legislation in order to ensure that no-one is executed for a crime committed when less than 18 years of age and to raise the age of legal responsibility to international standards;
podpira zakonodajna prizadevanja v Iranu za uvedbo ločenega zakonodajnega in sodnega sistema za mladoletne prestopnike in poziva poslance madžlisa, naj zagotovijo ukrepe, namenjene izobraževanju in družbenemu vključevanju teh prestopnikov; poziva Komisijo, naj podpre iranske oblasti v vseh zahtevah po mednarodnem sodelovanju na tem področju;
Supports legislative efforts in Iran to introduce a separate legislative and court system for juvenile offenders, and calls on the members of the Majlis to provide for measures aimed at education and social reintegration of child offenders; calls on the Commission to support the Iranian authorities in any request for international cooperation in this domain;
ostro obsoja preganjanje in zapiranje državljanov v Iranu, ki branijo človekove pravice in sodelujejo pri kampanjah proti smrtni kazni ter jih pogostokrat obsodijo zaradi »dejavnosti proti nacionalni varnosti«; še posebej poziva k brezpogojni izpustitvi Emadedina Baghija in Mohamada Sadegha Kabovanda ter spremembi smrtne kazni Farzada Kamangarja in k ponovni preiskavi njegovega primera;
Strongly condemns the persecution and imprisonment of citizens in Iran who engage in the defence of human rights and campaign against the death penalty, and are frequently charged with 'activities against national security'; calls, in particular, for the unconditional release of Emadeddin Baghi and Mohammad Sadegh Kabovand and the commutation of the death sentence on Farzad Kamangar, as well as a reinvestigation into his case;
pozdravlja nedavno najavo opustitve kamenjanja kot sredstva usmrtitve; vendar izraža svojo skrb, da se v predlogu reforme kazenskega zakonika, ki ga preučuje parlament, kamenjanje za nekatere oblike prešuštva še vedno ohranja, in poziva poslance madžlisa, naj se zavežejo k popolni ukinitvi kamenjanja;
Welcomes the recent announcement of the suspension of stoning as a means of execution; expresses its concern, however, that in the penal code reform proposal currently under consideration by the parliament, stoning for certain forms of adultery is being maintained, and calls on the members of the Majlis to commit themselves to the full abolition of stoning;
poziva iraške in ameriške oblasti, naj iranskih beguncev in iskalcev azila, ki bi jim resno grozilo preganjanje, prisilno ne vračajo v Iran in naj si zlasti prizadevajo z visokim komisarjem Združenih narodov za begunce (UNHCR) in drugimi organi za zadovoljivo dolgoročno rešitev položaja tistih, ki so sedaj v taboru Ašraf;
Calls on the Iraqi and US authorities not to forcibly return to Iran any Iranian refugees and asylum seekers who would be at serious risk of persecution and, in particular, to work together with the UNHCR and others to find a satisfactory long-term solution to the situation of those currently in Camp Ashraf;
naroči svojemu predsedniku, naj to resolucijo posreduje vladi in parlamentu Islamske republike Iran, Svetu, Komisiji, visokemu predstavniku za SZVP, vladam in parlamentom držav članic, generalnemu sekretarju Združenih narodov, Svetu ZN za človekove pravice, visokemu komisarju ZN za begunce ter vladam Združenih držav in Iraka.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Council, the Commission, the High Representative for the CFSP, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Council, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Governments of the United States and of Iraq.
– Joseph Daul, Elmar Brok, Othmar Karas, Gunnar Hökmark in José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra v imenu skupine PPE-DE
– Joseph Daul, Elmar Brok, Othmar Karas, Gunnar Hökmark and José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
– Jan Marinus Wiersma, Hannes Swoboda in Adrian Severin v imenu skupine PSE
– Jan Marinus Wiersma, Hannes Swoboda and Adrian Severin, on behalf of the PSE Group
– Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Marco Cappato, Lydie Polfer, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, István Szent-Iványi, Marielle De Sarnez in Toomas Savi v imenu skupine ALDE
– Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Marco Cappato, Lydie Polfer, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, István Szent-Iványi, Marielle De Sarnez and Toomas Savi, on behalf of the ALDE Group
– Adam Bielan, Ryszard Czarnecki, Konrad Szymański, Inese Vaidere, Wojciech Roszkowski, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Dariusz Maciej Grabowski v imenu skupine UEN
– Adam Bielan, Ryszard Czarnecki, Konrad Szymański, Inese Vaidere, Wojciech Roszkowski, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Dariusz Maciej Grabowski, on behalf of the UEN Group
– Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Marie Anne Isler Béguin in Cem Özdemir v imenu skupine Verts/ALE
– Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Marie Anne Isler Béguin and Cem Özdemir, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
ob upoštevanju svojih predhodnih resolucij o Gruziji, zlasti resolucij z dne 26. oktobra 2006 Sprejeta besedila , P6_TA(2008)0253 . , 29. novembra 2007 Sprejeta besedila , P6_TA(2007)0572 . in 5. junija 2008 Sprejeta besedila , P6_TA(2008)0253 . ,
having regard to its previous resolutions on country-regioncountry-regionGeorgia and, in particular, those of 26 October 2006 Texts adopted P6_TA(2008)0253 . , 29 November 2007 Texts adopted P6_TA(2007)0572 . and 5 June 2008 Texts adopted P6_TA(2008)0253 . ,
ob upoštevanju svoje resolucije z dne 15. novembra 2007 o krepitvi evropske sosedske politike Sprejeta besedila , P6_TA(2007)0538 . ter svojih resolucij z dne 17. januarja 2008 o učinkovitejši politiki EU za južni Kavkaz Sprejeta besedila P6_TA(2008)0016 . ter o pristopu k regionalni politiki za Črno morje Sprejeta besedila, P6_TA(2008)0017 . ,
having regard to its resolution of 15 November 2007 on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy Texts adopted P6_TA(2007)0538 . and its resolutions of 17 January 2008 on a more effective EU policy for the South Caucasus Texts adopted P6_TA(2008)0016 . and on a Black Sea Regional Policy Approach Texts adopted P6_TA(2008)0017 . ,
ob upoštevanju akcijskega načrta evropske sosedske politike, ki je bil sprejet z Gruzijo in vključuje zavezanost k sodelovanju za rešitev notranjih sporov v Gruziji,
having regard to the European Neighbourhood Policy’s Action Plan adopted with Georgia, which includes a commitment to cooperation for the settlement of Georgia’s internal conflicts,
ob upoštevanju skupnega ukrepa Sveta 2008/450/SZVP z dne 16. junija 2008 glede nadaljnjega prispevka Evropske unije k postopku reševanja konfliktov v Gruziji/Južni Osetiji UL L 157, 17.6.2008, str.
having regard to Council Joint Action 2008/450/CFSP of 16 June 2008 regarding a further contribution of the European Union to the conflict settlement process in Georgia/South Ossetia OJ L 157, 17.6.2008, p.
ob upoštevanju svojih predhodnih resolucij o odnosih med EU in Rusijo, zlasti svoje resolucije z dne 19. junija 2008 o vrhu EU-Rusija Sprejeta besedila, P6_TA(2008)0309 . ,
having regard to its previous resolutions on EU-Russia relations, particularly its resolution on the EU-Russia Summit of 19 June 2008 Texts adopted P6_TA(2008)0309 . ,
ob upoštevanju sklepov srečanja Sveta za splošne zadeve in zunanje odnose o razmerah v Gruziji z dne 13. avgusta 2008,
having regard to the conclusions of the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council’s Conclusions on the situation in Georgia of 13 August 2008,
ob upoštevanju resolucij varnostnega sveta Združenih narodov 1781 (2007) in 1808 (2008), ki podpirata ozemeljsko celovitost Gruzije in podaljšujeta mandat opazovalne misije ZN v Gruziji (UNOMIG) do 15. oktobra 2008,
having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions 1781 (2007) and 1808 (2008), which support the territorial integrity of country-regioncountry-regionGeorgia and extend the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) until 15 October 2008,
ob upoštevanju Sklepa stalnega sveta OVSE št. 861 o povečevanju števila vojaških častnikov v misiji OVSE v Gruziji,
having regard to OSCE Permanent Council Decision No 861 on increasing the number of military officers in the OSCE mission to country-regioncountry-regionGeorgia,
ob upoštevanju člena 103(4) svojega poslovnika.
having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
ker ostaja EU zavezana podpiranju neodvisnosti, suverenosti in ozemeljski celovitosti Gruzije znotraj njenih mednarodno priznanih meja;
whereas the EU remains committed to supporting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of country-regioncountry-regionGeorgia within its internationally recognised borders,
ker se je zaradi dodeljevanja ruskih potnih listov državljanom Južne Osetije in podpore separatističnemu gibanju ter povečanih vojaških dejavnosti separatistov, usmerjenih proti vasem z gruzijskim prebivalstvom, povečala napetost v Južni Osetiji, k čemur so prispevali tudi obsežni premiki ruske vojske julija v bližini gruzijske meje,
whereas the distribution of Russian passports to citizens in South Ossetia and support for the separatist movement, together with increased military activity by separatists against villages with Georgian populations, have increased the tensions in South Ossetia, combined with large-scale Russian military manoeuvres close to the border with Georgia during July,
ker je gruzijska vojska po več tednih povečane napetosti in spopadov med stranmi ter izzivanj s strani separatističnih južnoosetijskih sil, pri čemer je prišlo do bombnih napadov, smrtonosnih spopadov, streljanja in obstreljevanja, v katerih je umrlo veliko civilistov, še več pa jih je bilo ranjenih, v noči s 7. na 8. avgust izvedla nenaden artilerijski napad na Chinvali, nato pa nadaljevala s kopensko operacijo z uporabo tankov in vojakov, da bi nad Južno Osetijo ponovno vzpostavila nadzor,
whereas, after several weeks of increased tension and skirmishing between the parties, and provocations by the South Ossetian separatist forces involving bomb attacks, deadly clashes, shootouts and shellings which caused the deaths of many civilians and left many more injured, during the night of 7 and 8 August 2008 the Georgian army launched a surprise artillery attack on Tskhinvali followed by a ground operation using both tanks and soldiers aimed at regaining control over South Ossetia,
ker je Rusija po dolgoročnem kopičenju vojske takoj odgovorila z močnim protinapadom, poslala tanke in kopenske sile, bombardirala nekatere kraje, vključno z mestom Gori, ter blokirala gruzijska črnomorska pristanišča,
whereas Russia responded immediately, after a long-term military build-up, with a massive counter-attack, sending in tanks and ground troops, bombing several locations in Georgia, including the town of Gori, and blocking Georgian Black Sea ports,
ker je bilo okoli 158.000 ljudi pregnanih in prisiljenih zapustiti svoje domove in jim je treba sedaj pomagati, da se vrnejo; ker pa takšna vrnitev zaradi kasetnega streliva, neeksplodiranih eksplozivnih sredstev in kopenskih min, pa tudi ruskih svaril in pomanjkanja sodelovanja ni varna,
whereas about 158 000 people were uprooted by the crisis and forced to leave their homes and must now be assisted in their efforts to return; whereas the presence of cluster munitions, unexploded ordnance and landmines, as well as the Russian warnings and the lack of cooperation, make any such return unsafe,
ker je bila v ruskih vojaških napadih močno poškodovana gruzijska infrastruktura in je potrebna humanitarna pomoč,
whereas the infrastructure of country-regioncountry-regionGeorgiacountry-region has been heavily damaged by the Russian military actions and whereas humanitarian aid is needed,
ker so mednarodni strokovnjaki s področja človekovih pravic in vojaški analitiki ugotovili, da je ruska vojska v Gruziji uporabila kasetno strelivo, zaradi česar je na konfliktnih območjih ostalo na tisoče neeksplodiranih eksplozivnih sredstev; ker je tudi Gruzija priznala, da je v Južni Osetiji v bližini predora Roki uporabljala kasetno strelivo,
whereas international human rights researchers and military analysts have documented the use by Russian troops of cluster munitions in Georgia, which has left thousands of items of unexploded ordnance in the conflict areas; whereas Georgia has also admitted to the use of cluster bombs in South Ossetia near the Roki tunnel,
ker sta 12. avgusta predsednika Gruzije in Rusije na podlagi posredovanja EU podpisala sporazum, v katerem sta se obvezala k takojšnji prekinitvi ognja, umiku gruzijskih in ruskih sil na položaje, ki so jih zasedale pred 7. avgustom, in začetku mednarodnih pogovorov o čimprejšnji vzpostavitvi mednarodnega mehanizma za oblikovanje mirne in trajne rešitve konflikta,
whereas on 12 August the Presidents of Georgia and Russia committed themselves to an agreement on the basis of the mediation efforts carried out by the EU providing for an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of Georgian and Russian forces to their positions prior to 7 August and the opening of international talks on an international mechanism to be set up rapidly in order to prepare for a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict,
ker je Nato 19. avgusta prekinil odnose na visoki ravni z Rusijo, ker je bil ruski vojaški poseg „nesorazmeren“ in „v nasprotju z mirovno nalogo v delih Gruzije“, ter izjavil, da se običajni odnosi ne morejo nadaljevati, dokler bodo ruske enote v Gruziji,
whereas on 19 August NATO suspended regular top-level ties with Russia, saying that Russia’s military action had been ‘disproportionate’ and ‘inconsistent with its peacekeeping role in parts of Georgia’ and that ‘business as usual’ could not continue while Russian troops remained in Georgia,
ker je 22. avgusta Rusija umaknila tanke, artilerijo in stotine vojakov s položajev najbolj globoko v Gruziji, vendar še vedno nadzoruje dostop do pristaniškega mesta Poti na jugu Abhazije, in ker je ruska vlada naznanila, da bo ohranila vojaške sile na varnostnem območju okoli Južne Osetije in Abhazije ter vzpostavila osem nadzornih točk, kamor bo napotila svoje čete,
whereas on 22 August Russia withdrew tanks, artillery and hundreds of troops from their most advanced positions in Georgia, but still controls access to the port city of Poti, south of Abkhazia, and the Russian Government announced that it would keep troops in a security zone around South Ossetia, establishing eight checkpoints at which Russian troops will be deployed,
ker je 25. avgusta zgornji dom ruskega parlamenta izglasoval resolucijo, v kateri je predsednika pozval, naj prizna neodvisnost gruzijskih pokrajin Abhazije in Južne Osetije, ki se želita osamosvojiti, in ker je predsednik Medvedev nato 26. avgusta sporočil, da Rusija uradno priznava regiji kot samostojni državi,
whereas on 25 August Russia’s upper house of parliament adopted a resolution asking the President to recognise the independence of Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which was followed on 26 August by President Medvedev’s decision that Russia would formally recognise the two regions as independent states,