in OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA 5th Year No . 6 | ADDIS ABABA - 10ቃ November , 1998 CONTENTS Proclamation No . 131 / 1998 Office of the President Establishment Proclamation Page 862 PROCLAMATION NO . 131 / 1998 A PROCLAMATION TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA WHEREAS , it is found necessary to establish the Office of the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of NOW , THEREFORE , in accordance with Article 55 ( 1 ) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia , it is hereby proclaimed as follows : 1 . Short Title This Proclamation may be cited as the “ Office of the President Establishment Proclamation No . 131 / 1998 . ” . In this Proclamation : “ President ” means the Head of State of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia . “ the Office ” is hereby established as an autonomous organ having its own juridical personality . 2 . The Office shall be accountable to the President . 1 . 4 . Powers and Duties of the Office The Office shall have the following powers and duties : 1 ) to establish an efficient working system for the execution of the powers and duties entrused to the President , under the Constitution and other laws ; Unit Price www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com + 741 , 07 Po - vy ? yun ay 411 2 3 : 4 | to - date information on major political , economic and social activities carried out at the national , inter national and regional levels , as well as to compile and make same available ; to prepare and submit a draft text , of occasional national addresses the President makes on television and the radio to the Ethiopian peoples , as well as of speeches he delivers at the annual joint session of the House of Peoples ' Representatives and the House of the Federatian and at tagious domestic and inter national conferences ; ) to examine tegal matters submitted to the President and give pertinent advice thereon ; 5 ) to ensure that proper measures are taken for the security of the President and his family ; to manage and follow - up the administrative affairs of his residence ; 6 ) to coordinate occasions whereby the President gives audience , as found appropriate , to the represen tatives of various sectors of the society and to others ; upon an official visit to Ethiopia by a foreign Head of State , to create a conducive atmosphere , in cooperation witha pertinent offices , for the overall success of the visit ; and to follow - up the implemen tation thereof ; to conduct , in consultation with relevant organs , the event whereby foreign ambassadors present their credentials to the President and take leave of him at the conclusion of their term of duty ; i 9 ) to keep minutes of deliberations held between the President and forteign dignitaries , officially received by him , and to systematically organize and properly maintain same ; 10 ) to conduct , in cooperation with relevant organs , the event whereby the President appoints , ambassadors and other enyoys as well as confers high military titles and awards orders , medals and prizes , in accordance with the law ; 11 ) to consider petitions submitted to the President and facilitate the directing thereof to the concerned organs ; 12 ) to maintain close relations with entities under the time to time , the circumstances of their activity ; requisites for the President ' s travel abroad on an official visit or otherwise . . . . . 14 ) to work out di programme , in consultation with . . . concerned bodies , for domestic working visits made - by the President . . . . . . . . 15 ) to facilitate the execution thereof , where prizes of acclaim and gifts of charity are awarded by the President ; 16 ) to own property , enter into contracts , and to sue and be sued in its own name ; www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com 17 ) to carry out such other relevant activities as are conducive for the accomplishment of its respon sibility . 5 . Organization of the Office The Office shall have : 1 ) a government - appointed ; ( a ) Head of the Office , ( b ) Special Assitance to the President , ( c ) Special Advisor of the President , ( d ) Chief of Presidential Special Security ; and 2 ) the necessary staff . 6 . Powers and Duties of the Head of the Office 1 ) The Head of the office shall , in accordance with general directive issued by the President , manage and administer the day - to - day activities of the Office in the capacity of a chief executive . 2 ) Without prejudice to the generality stated in sub Article ( 1 ) of this Article , the Head of the Office shall ( a ) exercise such powers and duties of the Office as are entrusted to him , by internal directives , from among those provided for under Article 4 hereof ; coordinate the activities of the other senior officials , referred to in Article 5 ( 1 ) of this Proclamation ; ( c ) employ and administer employees of the Office , in compliance with the basic principles of federal civil service laws . prepare the annual budget and work programme of the Office and implement same upon approval ; ( e ) effect expenditure in accordance with the ap proved budget and work programme of the Office ; ( f ) represent the Office in all its dealings with third parties ; ( g ) prepare reports on the activities and financial accounts of the Office ; ( h ) carry out such other related activities as are assigned to him by he President . 3 ) The Head of the Office may , to the extent necessary for efficient performance , delegate part of his powers and duties to junior officials , accountable to him , and to other employees of the Office . . 4 ) In the absence of the Head of the Office , one of he other senior officials , referred to in Article 5 ( 1 ) hereof , shall act on his behalf ; on the basis of a decision to be given by the President . | 7 . The Budget of the Office The budget of the Office shall be approved by the House of Peoples ' Representatives . | 8 . Books of Accounts accounts . 2 ) The books of accounts and financial documents of the Office shall be audited , annually , by the Auditor General . 19 . Effective Date This Proclamation shall come into force as of the 10th day of November , 1998 . Done at Addis Ababa , this 10th day of November , 1998 . PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com