Federal Regional Officials Discuss Proclamation On Foreign Nationals Of Ethiopian

Origin

Addis Ababa, March 05, 2002 (WIC) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a

consultative meeting with Federal and Regional Officials on the recently endorsed proclamation

providing foreign nationals of Ethiopian Origin with certain rights to be exercised in their

country.

According to the Director of Press and Information Directorate with the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, Dina Muftih, officials from concerned Federal and Regional Offices attended the

one-day meeting.

He said foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin who participated in the meeting applauded the

decision taken by the government in formulating laws governing them exclusive of other

foreign nationals.

He said the meeting had also thoroughly deliberated on the recent decision passed by the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assign on ambassador to handle exclusively the affairs of

Ethiopian communities in foreign countries. The participants forwarded important points to be

included in the regulations passed by the Ministry concerning issues related to Ethiopian

communities in foreign countries.

The participants also stressed the need for serious consideration matters of national security

of in the process of issuing identification cards to foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin.

Dina said the Ministry would follow its own internal regulations and mechanisms to identify

foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin who could pose problems to the security of the country.