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The Scottish flag - the oldest national flag in Europe - could once again become the flag of an independent country

EDINBURGH (Tiraspol Times) - Today, 1 May 2007, England and Scotland mark the 300th anniversary of the treaty that wedded the two within the United Kingdom. But Scottish voters aren't celebrating. Two days from now, Scottish voters go to the poll in a vote which is expected to hand dominance of Scotland's parliament to the separatist Scottish National Party. The SNP, as the party is also known, has called for a popular referendum on independence and sovereign statehood for Scotland.

" - I will be voting for independence," said Alasdair Gray, a Scottish author. "A good cause is never hopeless, no matter how many times it's knocked back."

The SNP says that Scotland gains independence when the people of Scotland vote for it in a democratic referendum.

Such a referendum is supported two to one by voters in Scotland. 60% of Scottish voters are in favor of holding a plebiscite on their political status as suggested by the Scottish National Party (SNP), according to a poll reported by Angus Reid Global Monitor.

While 60 per cent of respondents support a public vote on Scotland’s independence, only 28 per cent oppose holding such a referendum.

However, prospects for Scottish independence are not yet certain. Even if the SNP finishes first as expected on 3 May, it is not clear if it can win enough seats to bring independence to a vote in 2010. Many things can go wrong in the meantime: The central government of the United Kingdom could, for instance, refuse to recognize the will of the Scottish voters. This would put Scotland in a situation similar to Pridnestrovie, the unrecognized country which is also known informally as Transdniester (in English) or Transnistria (its Romanian name).

Pridnestrovie today has de facto independence, but neighboring Moldova still pursues a 17 year old territorial claim on the unrecognized country. As part of its claim, it has pressured the international community to refuse to grant diplomatic recognition: Even if 95% of voters reject unification with Moldova, the central government in Chisinau still refuses to recognize the statehood of its smaller neighbor, and pressures others to not do it either.

2006 independence referendum in Pridnestrovie

In 2006, voters in Pridnestrovie reaffirmed their commitment to a democratic, independent future in freedom. A democratic nationwide referendum was held on 17 September 2006 asking voters:

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September 2006: Holding Pridnestrovie's red and green flag high, happy voters celebrated independence victory in the streets of the capital, Tiraspol.

1. Do you support the course towards the independence of the PMR and the subsequent free association with the Russian Federation?
2. Do you consider it possible to renounce the PMR's independent status and subsequently become part of the Republic of Moldova?

Turnout was high: 78.6% of the registered voters of the country voted in the referendum. Of those, 97.1% of voters supported the first point, while 2.3% did not support it: More than 97% of the voters wanted to continue the quest for independence.

Only 3.4% of voters supported the second point, while 94.6% did not support it. Nearly 95% of the voters rejected unification with Moldova.

Russia's Duma recognized the vote but, quite predicatably, the OSCE and many countries did not, since it was held without the approval of the neighboring government of Moldova. Nevertheless, nearly 200 international election observers monitored the vote and declared it democratic, free and fair.

2006 independence referendum in Montenegro

The status of the union between Montenegro and Serbia was decided by a referendum on Montenegrin independence on May 21, 2006. A total of 419,240 votes were cast, representing 86.5% of the total electorate. 230,661 votes or 55.5% were for independence and 185,002 votes or 44.5% were against. The 45,659 difference narrowly surpassed the 55% threshold needed to validate the referendum.

According to rules proposed by the European Union, the referendum would pass with a 55% supermajority of votes in favor of independence, along with a minimum turnout of 50%. The referendum law excluded Montenegrins living within Serbia, denying them a voice in the referendum. It was believed that Montenegrins with ties to Serbia would overwhelmingly vote against independence. The rules, which were made by pro-independence politicians in Montenegro, were designed to prevent this group from being able to able.

According to the electoral commission, the 55% threshold was passed by only 2,300 votes. If the Montenegrins from Serbia had been allowed to vote in May of 2006, Montenegro would still have been an integral part of Serbia today.

On June 3, 2006, the Parliament of Montenegro declared the independence of Montenegro, formally confirming the result of the referendum on independence.

Preparing for Scotland's independence referendum

Now, the turn has come for Scotland to vote on its future. 60% of the populations wants that, and as Tiraspol Times columnist Prof. Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis writes, Scotland can flourish with independence. Independence is not only normal; it is also desirable. Other small European countries are much more successful than Scotland in terms of both economic growth and living standards. Independence gives those nations the powers to shape their country for the better. Scotland could have this too.

In his latest column for The Tiraspol Times, Muhammad Megalommatis gives three examples on three sides of Scotland:

Off the Scottish east coast lies Norway. Norway became independent from Sweden just a hundred years ago. Today, it is the second most prosperous country in the world.

Off the west coast lies Ireland. It became independent from the United Kingdom less than eighty years ago. Today, it is the fourth most prosperous country in the world.

Off the north coast lies Iceland. This small country of just 300,000 people became independent from Denmark less than eighty years ago. Today, Iceland is the sixth most prosperous country in the world.

As the Scots go to elect their Parliament, the people of Pridnestrovie, Kosovo, Abkhazia, Northern Cyprus and many others are keeping a close eye. Scotland can use the 2006 independence referendums of Pridnestrovie and Montenegro as examples, and - in turn - Pridnestrovie itself can learn from the Scottish experience in the years to come.

With democracy growing worldwide, small states everywhere are preparing to join the international community on an equal basis as their larger neighbors whom they once were part of. Some of the fastest growing political parties are those which are supporting this process.

" - The most powerful and enduring political movement of the twentieth century is the pursuit of democracy's basic tenet: Self-determination," says political leader Roger C. S. Lin, who last week advised Pridnestrovie on the steps to take for recognition of its independence from the pages of The Tiraspol Times.

See also:
» We are all Scots today! [2]
» Why not a referendum to decide the issue? [3]
» Landslide win for independence vote in Pridnestrovie's referendum [4]