Nigeria has formally acceded to the 1954 convention on the status of stateless persons and the 1961 convention on reduction of statelessness, as President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday handed over the country’s instruments to the United Nations (UN). The Federal Executive Council had, last week at an emergency session, approved the ratification of the Convention before its accession was taken to the global body as part of Nigeria's continued efforts to protect human rights globally. Jonathan, who later held talks with the Secretary of State of the United States of America, Mrs. Hillary Clinton on strengthening relations between the two countries, had, while submitting the instrument to the UN, said it was a demonstration of the nation’s commitment to global issues and for the promotion of democratic values and protection of human rights. According to him, Nigeria firmly believes that the nationality of people imbue them with belongingness, adding that it was a demonstration of the “country’s resolve to ensure that everyone has an effective right to nationality.” The President, who discussed with Clinton in continuation of his four-day visit to participate in the 66th United Nations’ General Assembly, also discussed issues of multilateral nature at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Central Park, South of Manhattan. Legal adviser to the UN, Miss Patricia O’brien, who received the instruments on behalf of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, expressed appreciation to Nigeria for its commitment to ensuring the eradication of statelessness. Jonathan had earlier co-chaired a high level meeting on "Addressing Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought in the Context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication" with the Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Mr. Jean Asselborn. Jonathan, who had a crowded day, also received the President of Georgia, Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili, and the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Dr. Jean Ping.