President calls on nation to support patriots

Addis Ababa, April 5(ENA)-- President Girma Woldegiogis has indicated the need to support the Ethiopian patriots who maintained the independence of the country intact through their fierce struggle against invaders.

The president was speaking at the National Palace on Saturday during a meeting summoned to look into ways of providing support to the patriots.

Girma on the occasion said, apart from material and morale support, there was also need to create a situation in which the patriots' historical legacy and heritage is sustainably preserved.

The patriots who had paid huge sacrifices for the maintainance of the country's independence have been facing various socio-economic problems, the president said.

The government will do what it can to alleviate the difficulties the patriots have been encountering, he said, adding, the nation will never forget the legacy of independence bequethed to the present generation.

He said, it was expected of all to preserve the patriots' legacy and inculcate strong sense of patriotism in the minds of the citizens of the present generation.

President of the Ancient Ethiopian Patriots' Association, Liketiguhan Astatke Abate on his part said numerous patriots are now living under critically poor conditions, without supporters or benefactors.

He said, it was incumbent on the government and all citizens of the nation to provide care and support to the patriots and the families of those martyred.

He recalled that the former marxist regime confiscated the farmlands that had been awarded to them for their galantry as well as the houses they had owned without any compensation.

He indicated to provide members of the association with free health services.

The meeting organized a committee entrusted with the task of finding a rapid solution to alleviate the social and economic problems facing the patriots.

Association members, Speaker of the House of People's Representatives, Dawit Yohannes, Defense Minister, Abadula Gemeda and eminent personalities attended the meeting.

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