There are now nine Regional States and two City States, and the door is also open for every nation to establish its own regional state in the future. The preamble to the Constitution emphasizes that “the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia” have expressed their strongly commitment to live together “in full and free exercise of our right to self-determination, to building a political community founded on the rule of law and capable of ensuring a lasting peace, guaranteeing a democratic order, and advancing our economic and social development.” It highlights further that the peoples of Ethiopia are “fully cognizant that their common destiny can best be served by rectifying historically unjust relationships and by further promoting the shared interests.” Each nation of Ethiopia has the right to the full measure of self-government. This consists of the right to establish institutions of government in the territory they inhabit and to equitable representation at both federal and state government level.95 The regional governments are guaranteed the right to determine their own working language, to preserve their own separate identity and to establish their own independent legislative, executive and judicial structures. As indicated in the preamble of the Constitution the people of Ethiopia are convinced that “to live as one economic community is necessary in order to create sustainable and mutually supportive conditions for ensuring respect for our rights and freedoms and for the collective promotion of our interests.” The Government is under an obligation to respect the identity of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples since the people have shown their determination to consolidate the peace and the prospect of a democratic order which their struggles and sacrifices for freedom have brought about as a lasting legacy. Accordingly the Government has been required to strengthen ties of equality, unity and fraternity among the people. The Government therefore provides special assistance to the Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples least advantaged in economic and social development. It has the duty to hold, on behalf of the People, land and other natural resources and to deploy them for their common benefit and development. The Government also at all times promotes the participation of the People in the formulation of national development policies and programs; and has the duty to support the initiatives of the People in their development endeavors. 95Article 39(3) & 47(2) of the FDRE Constitution 109