CONSTIFPP.DOC 2/7/01 10:40 PM THE CONSTITUTION OF ERITREA Ratified by the Constituent Assembly, On May 23, 1997 Preamble ..................................................................................... 521 Chapter I: General Provisions.............................................. 522 Chapter II: National Objectives And Directive Principles.... 524 Chapter III: Fundamental Rights, Freedoms And Duties....... 527 Chapter IV: The National Assembly ...................................... 533 Chapter V: The Executive ..................................................... 537 Chapter VI: The Administration Of Justice............................ 541 Chapter VII: Miscellaneous Provisions ................................... 543 PREAMBLE We the people of Eritrea, united in a common struggle for our rights and common destiny: With Eternal Gratitude to the scores of thousands of our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the causes of our rights and independence, during the long and heroic revolutionary struggle for liberation, and to the courage and steadfastness of our Eritrean patriots; and standing on the solid ground of unity and justice bequeathed by our martyrs and combatants; Aware that it is the sacred duty of all citizens to build a strong and advanced Eritrea on the bases of freedom, unity, peace, stability and security achieved through the long struggle of all Eritreans, which tradition we must cherish, preserve and develop; Realising that in order to build an advanced country, it is necessary that the unity, equality, love for truth and justice, selfreliance, and hard work, which we nurtured during our revolutionary struggle for independence and which helped us to triumph, must become the core of our national values; Appreciating the fact that for the development and health of our society, it is necessary that we inherit and improve upon the