<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><mads xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/mads/" xmlns:mods="http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.loc.gov/mads/
mads.xsd"><authority><topic authority="http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en">independent nations</topic></authority><related type="other"><topic>independent sovereign nations</topic></related><related type="broader"><topic>political administrative bodies by degree of independence</topic></related><variant type="other"><topic>independent nation</topic></variant> <note xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ Nations whose residents, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually but not always hold sovereignty over the territory. To specifically designate independent nations having sovereignty, use "independent sovereign nations." ]]></note></mads>