public RepositoryObject createRepositoryObject(String entityType, Map<String, String> attributes,

        Map<String, String> tags) throws IllegalArgumentException {

        if (TARGET.equals(entityType)) {

            ObjectRepository<StatefulTargetObject> repo = getGenericObjectRepository(TARGET);

            StatefulTargetRepository statefulRepo = (StatefulTargetRepository) repo;

            return statefulRepo.preregister(attributes, tags);

        }

        else {

            prepareAssociationAttributes(entityType, attributes);

            ObjectRepository<?> repo = getGenericObjectRepository(entityType);

            return repo.create(attributes, tags);

        }

    }