Separatist Ambitions in Europe
Georgia
The provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia each proclaimed their independence in 1992 after the break-up of the Soviet Union and Georgia became embroiled in civil war, which included ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia. Moscow backed both regions in the fighting and continues to support them, though it has not recognized them officially. However, it has threatened to do so in response to EU and US recognition of Kosovo.
Azerbaijan
The separatist enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is located within Azeri territory and officially remains part of Azerbaijan. Azeri and ethnic Armenian forces fought an undeclared war over the area, which came to an end in 1994 after Russia brokered a ceasefire. The enclave is largely populated by ethnic Armenians, who have it under their control.
Moldova
Mainly Russian-speaking Transnistria declared independence from Romanian-speaking Moldova after in 1990, leading to a civil war that ended in a 1992 ceasefire. No country has recognized the region as a separate state, despite Transnistria's de facto independence, and attempts by international organizations and various countries have failed to resolve the issue.
Corsica
The French Mediterranean island has been plagued by more than 30 years of low-level violence waged by separatists opposed to French rule. Separatists often carry out small-scale bombings against government buildings and vacation homes in Corsica.
Cyprus
Cyprus was split along ethnic lines in 1974 after Turkey responded to an effort to unite the island with Greece by invading the northern part of the country. Turkish Cypriots have a breakaway state in the north which is recognized only by Ankara. The Republic of Cyprus, the Greek-speaking half of the island and an EU member, is worried the Turkish-speaking portion could demand that Brussels recognize a one-sided declaration of independence.
Spain
Spain has struggled with Basque separatism for decades. Militant separatists have killed hundreds of people over the past 40 years. A sizeable, peaceful minority in Catalonia would also like to see their region, which already enjoys considerable autonomy, achieve independence. Nationalist parties in both regions issued statements hailing Kosovo's statehood.
Bosnian Serbs
Since the 1992-1995 war, Bosnia has consisted of two entities, the Serb-run Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation, each with their own government, parliament and police force. Many Bosnian Serbs believe Republika Srpska should secede from Bosnia and eventually become part of Serbia, which they see as their motherland.
Scotland
The Scottish National Party, which leads Scotland's regional government, plans to hold a referendum on independence from Britain in 2010. Scotland remains, for the time being, one of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom. It has separate legal and educational systems from the rest of the UK as well as an independent church, the Church of Scotland.
Belgium
Belgium periodically faces the prospect of dissolution due to the difficulty of power-sharing between its two main ethnic groups, the Dutch-speaking Flemish in the wealthy northern part of the country and the French-speaking Walloons in the poorer south. The country's political system came to a standstill for six months, until December 2007, and fears that the country would break in two resurfaced, after tensions between the two groups prevented the formation of a government coalition.