List of special entities recognized by international treaty or agreement

A number of geographical political entities have a special position recognized by international treaty or agreement (Andorra, Åland in Finland, Monaco, Svalbard in Norway, Kosovo in Serbia, the Vatican City State, the ', as well as the of Hong Kong and Macau in the People's Republic of China) and many other territories and states.
Sovereign states

Andorra could until 1993 be considered de facto to have been under dual French and Spanish rule due to the lack of clear division of powers while it was ruled by a Spanish bishop and the French president. In 1278, the conflict between the French Count and the Catalan bishop was resolved by the signing of a pareage (pariatges), which provided that Andorra's sovereignty be shared between the count of Foix and the bishop of Urgell (of La Seu d'Urgell, Catalonia, Spain). The pareage, a feudal institution recognizing the principle of equality of rights shared by two rulers, gave the small state its territory and political form. In 1993 a new constitution was signed, and today Andorra is a co-principality with the President of France (as the legal successor of the count of Foix) and the Bishop of Urgell playing the ceremonial role of co-princes, in a diarchy or duumvirate.

Until the 1911 constitution, the princes of Monaco were absolute rulers. In July 1918, a treaty was signed providing for limited French protection over Monaco. The treaty, part of the Treaty of Versailles, established that Monegasque international policy would be aligned with French political, military, and economic interests. In many ways France still has control over the state. The executive branch consists of a Minister of State (the head of government), who presides over a four-member Council of Government (the Cabinet). The minister of state is a French citizen appointed by the prince from among candidates proposed by the French government. In 2002, a new treaty between France and Monaco clarified that if there are no heirs to carry on the dynasty, the principality will remain an independent nation rather than revert to France. Monaco's military defence, however, is still the responsibility of France.

The Vatican City state came into existence by virtue of the Lateran Treaty in 1929, which spoke of it as a new creation (Preamble and Article III), and not as a vestige of the much larger Papal States (756 to 1870) that had previously encompassed central Italy. Most of the Papal States were absorbed into the Kingdom of Italy in 1860, as was the city of Rome with a small area close to it, ten years later in 1870. The state has no firm population as its citizens are only granted citizenship for the duration of service in the state. Those without dual citizenship will then get Italian citizenship.
Other territories
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Neutral and demilitarised autonomous region of
In 1856 Åland was demilitarised by the Treaty of Paris. This was later affirmed by the League of Nations in 1921 after a sovereignty dispute with Sweden. In a somewhat different context it was reaffirmed in the treaty on Finland's admission to the European Union in 1995.
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Special Administrative Region of the
Following the signing of Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong on December 19, 1984, the People's Republic of China gained sovereignty of Hong Kong on July 1, 1997. It is now autonomous and self-governing entity as per the Basic Law of Hong Kong.
Kosovo
Autonomous province of
Kosovo is considered by Serbia to be an autonomous province, the formal name of which is "Kosovo and Metohija". It was under United Nations administration from 1999 under the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 that ended the Kosovo conflict. That resolution reaffirmed the sovereignty of Serbia over Kosovo but required the UN administration to promote the establishment of 'substantial autonomy and self-government' for Kosovo pending a 'final settlement' for negotiation between the parties.
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Special Administrative Region of the
Following the signing of Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau in 1987, the People's Republic of China gained sovereignty over Macau on December 20, 1999. It is now largely autonomous operating under the Basic Law of Macau.
Northern Ireland
Constituent country of the
Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland but is also the subject of an international agreement, the Belfast Agreement, between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Ireland, which gives Northern Ireland a devolved assembly.

under the control of
Portions of the former British Mandate of Palestine captured and administered by Jordan and Egypt in the late 1940s, and later by Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. They include Gaza Strip and West Bank, both of which are now divided into three areas (Area A, Area B, and Area C) and sixteen governorates under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority in accordance with the Oslo Accord. The permanent legal and political status of these places are subject to further negotiation between the government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Entity of
The Bosnian War ended on December 14, 1995. Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Constitution of Republika Srpska defines it as a territorially unified, indivisible and inalienable constitutional and legal entity that independently performs its constitutional, legislative, executive and judicial functions. The National Assembly and the Government of Republika Srpska are based in Banja Luka, although Sarajevo remains the official capital.
Svalbard
Demilitarized region of
Part of the Kingdom of Norway, Svalbard is administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen. Norwegian sovereignty over the islands was recognized by the Svalbard Treaty on 9 February 1920. The treaty gave some other signatories certain extraterritorial rights on the island, and ensured its demilitarization.

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