Something

CREATE PROCEDURE insert_country (
		name_full VARCHAR(40),
		name_short VARCHAR(10),
		area_code TINYINT,
		OUT id INT )
	LANGUAGE SQL
	SQL SECURITY INVOKER
	COMMENT 'insert a new country'
	BEGIN
		DECLARE n TINYINT DEFAULT 0;
		/* check for an existing country */
		SELECT COUNT(*) INTO n FROM 'country' WHERE 'name_full' = name_full OR 'name_short' = name_short;
		IF (n>1) THEN
			SELECT INTO id -1;
		ELSE
			INSERT INTO 'country' ('id', 'name_full', 'name_short', 'area_code') VALUES (NULL, name_full, name_short, area_code);
			SELECT INTO id LAST_INSERT_ID();
		END IF;
	END