What defines a state? According to Article 1 of the 1933 Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States, the canonical definition in international law reads: “The state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined

territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states.” The Free Republic of Verdis has fulfilled all these criteria and principles set out in the Montevideo Convention ever since its inception.

Additional international legal considerations in Verdis' favor: The formation of Verdis as a state is based on self-government of its own people, i.e. its citizens; Verdis was proclaimed with the tacit consent of its former claimants Croatia and Serbia, which both have waived claim to the territory; Verdis does not violate the territorial integrity of any other country; Verdis was not claimed by use of force; Verdis is not a separatist or secession movement; Verdis is not a coup or takeover of an existing state There is no applicable counterclaim to that of Verdis on the indicated territory