legislative texts recognizing fundamental rights expressly for non-citizens (who may or may not be "foreigners"). The reference to 'citizen' consequently may be understood as excluding non-citizens such as stateless persons from the enjoyment of rights guaranteed in constitutions. National laws of the six countries fall short of the standards in international treaties and conventions relating to statelessness. Most countries deal with their stateless populations under the laws governing foreigners or aliens. This can be noted from many texts especially those relating to labour and social security, where some laws apply the condition of reciprocity to foreigners wishing to work, even though stateless persons should in principle be exempted from reciprocity obligations. The social security law of Lebanon is a good example. Civil rights Nationality laws of the six countries have provisions that identify who is a national and how nationality is obtained. In principle, laws have both Jus Soli and Jus Sanguinis provisions and hence, in principle also, those who are born on the territory of the State are entitled to obtain nationality. Such provisions are compliant with international conventions. However, and for various reasons, the application of these rules to Stateless persons has been seldom. The primary principle in the six Arab countries is paternal lineage, with nationality acquired by birth from a national father. If a child cannot be clearly identified to a national father, other possibilities do arise. Only The United Arab Emirates and Egypt have recognized, under specific conditions the right of a national mother to grant nationality to her child. The Kuwaiti nationality law for example, acknowledges the passage of nationality to children of a national woman married to a non-national if her mother is divorced and her divorce is final and irreversible. In Lebanon, Decision No. 15 of the year 1925 stipulates in article 1 that “Is considered Lebanese one who: a) is born from a Lebanese father; b) is born in the territories of greater Lebanon and has not acquired a different nationality upon birth; c) is born in Lebanon from unknown parents or from parents of unknown nationality. Similar provision is found in the Syrian nationality law, enacted by legislative decree No. 276 of the year 1969, Article 2 of which ascribes Syrian nationality to: a) anyone born to a Syrian father; b) anyone born to a Syrian mother and his kinship to a father has not been legally proven; 32