[alexander_busek]

“This is the 53rd state,” Philippe Nekrassoff, a local deputy mayor, said as he made his way across the square,

Germans say something akin to that, as well, when referring to either Germany as a whole, or some part of it. I always correct them ("You mean '51st state'), but they are at least well-intentioned. It's meant as a compliment.

Regards,

[zeestephen]

Re: "51st-53rd State"

In World War II, it would have been the 49th State.