Gilbert and Ellice Islands Gilberts or secede. They were told that if they separated they would not receive royalties from the Ocean Island phosphate or other assets of the colony. Despite this, 3799 Tuvaluans (92%) voted to secede, while 293 voted against secession. On 1 October 1975, legal separation from the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati), took place. On 1 January 1976, full administration of the new colony was transferred to Funafuti from Tarawa. Tuvalu became an independent constitutional monarchy and the 38th member of the Commonwealth on the 1 October 1978. The Gilbert Islands attained independence on 12 July 1979 under the name Kiribati
Bosnia and Herzegovina's reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence an opinion on the legitimacy of Kosovo's independence. Silajdžić spoke in his own name because the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not adopt a platform which would allow him to speak officially. In August 2009 the Forum of Bosniaks of Kosovo requested that Bosnia recognise Kosovo and the travel documents of its citizens. In response, Presidency member Nebojša Radmanović stated that the Presidency would not discuss the issue in the foreseeable future, and that those making such demands must consider "what kind of state Bosnia-Herzegovina is, what tendencies are present, and what could be the consequences of such a