THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

The signing of agreement between Ivoirian President Alassane Ouattara and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to strengthen security, the presentation of Letters of Credence by Liberia's Ambassador accredited to the Kingdom of Belgium, Amb. Isaac W. Nyenabo, II to His Majesty, King Phillippe of the Kingdom of Belgium and the presentation of a petition to the United States Embassy near Monrovia by a group of “concerned “Liberians to ensure that justice prevails in the case of some Liberian girls that were taken to Lebanon in search of greener-pastures are among stories dominating today’s summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Liberia, Ivory Coast Agree on Areas of Cooperation -Hold Joint Border Meeting in Guiglo, Next July

Ivoirian President Alassane Ouattara and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have expressed the desire to organize another meeting of the Joint Council of Chiefs and Elders of border communities of both countries in Guiglo, in July next year. The meeting is aimed at continuing the dialogue and consultations launched by the two countries in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County two years ago.  In October 2013, several hundred traditional chiefs and elders from bordering communities in Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Maryland and River Gee counties of Liberia, as well as those from Guiglo, Danané, Tabou and Tai of Ivory Coast held a four-day meeting in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County to improve relationships between and amongst inter-regional and trans-border groups, including the chiefs and elders; undertake an inclusive dialogue platform responsive to the peace, security and reconciliation needs of all the citizens, particularly those in the trans-border communities.  Also attending the meeting were authorities from the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), as well as government officials of the two countries. According to an Executive Mansion release, this was one of the many decisions contained in Communiqué signed between the two countries following a two-day working visit by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to Ivory Coast at the invitation of her counterpart, President Ouattara from April 26 to 27, 2015. Justice Minister, Cllr. Benedict Sannoh signed for Liberia; while the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, S.E.M. Charles Koffi Diby signed for Ivory Coast.  Also in the Communiqué, both countries agreed to strengthen security by ensuring increased cooperation and establishing reliable mechanisms capable of guaranteeing more effective security in the border region. In this regard, the two Heads of State have expressed their willingness to pursue cooperation and complete various ongoing integration projects especially electrical interconnection and the completion of ongoing road projects from Blolequin to Toulepleu, Logatuo to Danane/Geunta, and the Taboo to Prollo along the two countries’ borders, reports the In Profile Daily.

Related Captions: Liberian, Ivorian Chiefs To Reconcile Again…As Both Countries Agree To Strengthen Security(INSIGHT), Liberia, Ivory Coast Agree On Areas Of Cooperation…Hold Joint Border Meeting In Guiglo, Next July(Heritage)

Liberia’s Envoy Presents Credentials To King Philippe  Of The Kingdom Of Belgium

The Heritage newspaper reports that Liberia's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Amb. Isaac W. Nyenabo, II has presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty, King Phillippe of the Kingdom of Belgium. The presentation ceremony took place on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at the Royal Palace of Belgium, the official seat of the Belgium Government. Ambassador Nyenabo extended greetings on behalf of Her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia to King Phillippe and commended the Government and people of the Kingdom of Belgium for their support to Liberia over the years.  He said Liberia remains forever grateful to the Belgium people for the medical and other assistance provided them during the height of the outbreak of the Ebola virus, and before that the years of crises, a relationship that dates back to 1859 when both countries enjoyed the exchange of state visits by their Head of States. Ambassador Nyenabo appealed to King Phillppe for more assistance to the country's health sector, as Liberia prepares for its post Ebola recovery process; provide scholarships and other educational opportunities to the country's educational sector and students to study medicine and other sciences and its support to the agriculture, trade and commerce industries.  Receiving the letters, His Majesty, King Phillippe acknowledged Liberia's recovery strategy through the 'Marshall Plan' and investment potentials and pledged his country's support to those initiatives. King Phillippe said Belgium will work closely with Liberia in strengthening and sustaining its bilateral relationship and the cordiality of friendship between the two countries and peoples.

Related Captions: Am. Nyenabo Calls For Belgium’s Continuous Support To Liberia(In Profile Daily), Ambassador Nyenabo Presents Credentials To King Phillippe Of Belgium(The Inquirer)

‘Bring Our Girls Back’ -Citizens Petition US Embassy

The In Profile Daily reports that a group of Liberians, under the banner, Concerned Liberians, on Tuesday presented a petition to the United States Embassy in Monrovia for the Embassy to ensure that justice prevails in the case of some Liberian girls that were taken to Lebanon in search of green-pastures, but are being reportedly enslaved. The group assembled at the US Embassy compound in a peaceful protest with Placards calling for the intervention of the United States Government to ensure that the remaining Liberian girls taken to Lebanon by some unknown people are brought back to Liberia. The group is headed by two young Liberian women, including Tete Gebro and Mamensie Kabba. Reading the petition statement, Mrs. Kabba told the US Embassy that there are some Liberian girls currently undergoing sex slavery in Lebanon, orchestrated by some unknown Lebanese who took the girls from Liberia to that country under the pretext of working. The statement condemned the act and referred to it as a total human rights violation, and called on the US Government to intervene in the matter to ensure that the girls are brought back to Liberia. In response to the group’s petition, the Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy, Sally Hodgson said the US Embassy supports the group’s decision because the US Government is against human rights violation when it comes to human trafficking. She assured the group that the US Government will work to ensure that the issue is properly addressed with the Liberian Government to bring all of the girls back.

Related Captions: Concerned Liberians Petition White House(The New Republic), Liberians Seek US Intervention In “Trafficked” Liberian Girls Case(MICROSCOPE), ‘Concerned Liberians’ Petition U.S. Embassy-Want trafficked girls released(The New Dawn), Bring Back Our Girls: Rescuing Liberians Stranded In Lebanon(FrontPage Africa)

USAID, Chevron-Liberia handover modern latrines to PCC

A back page story of the INSIGHT newspaper reads that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chevron-Liberia has handover three modern public latrines to the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC). The Modern facilities which include flush toilets, sinks for hand washing, male and female  showers were unveiled Tuesday at a turning over ceremony which took place at the Paynesville City Hall. The project was part of a public-private partnership between USAID, Chevron-Liberia and the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) to improve the health and quality of life for residents of the largest municipality in Montserrado County, the paper said.

Related Captions: USAID, Chevron Construct Modern Latrines For Paynesville Residents(Heritage), USAID, Chevron Construct Modern Latrines for Paynesville Residents(In Profile Daily)

University of London Donates 1,800 books to UL

A former lecturer at the University of Liberia, Mr. John Brownell, has presented 1,800 books and journals donated by the University of London to the Physics Department of the University of Liberia. Speaking at the presentation ceremony held on the University of Liberia Fendall Campus, Mr. Brownell, who is based in the United Kingdom, said he was contacted by Dr. Bobby Sebo, Chairman of the Physics Department, to assist the department. He said he then contacted universities in the United Kingdom for assistance. Brownell said he contacted 20 universities and that all of them have assured him of their commitment to assist the University of Liberia, adding, “There is goodwill out there that Liberia stands to benefit from these universities”. He said most of the universities he contacted never believed that people were reading physics in post-war Liberia, so they were enthusiastic to give assistance to the University of Liberia, the INSIGHT newspaper writes.

Related Captions: University Of London Donates 1,800 Books To UL(Heritage), UL Physics Department Receives 1,800 Textbooks(Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES

UNMIL Drawdown, Ebola Recovery Top EU-Liberia Dialogue

The Government of Liberia and the European Union have held their 3rd Political Dialogue in Monrovia with specific credence given to the ongoing drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the government’s plans for the transition and for the post-Ebola recovery exercise.  The Liberia delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, while the EU team was led by its Ambassador Tiina Intelman. Present also were several Ambassadors of EU member states accredited to Liberia, Daily Observer report.

Gov’t Distributes 19 Ambulances

The Government through the Ministry of health (MOH), has disclosed plans to distribute 19 ambulances to major health centers across the country. At yesterday’s Ministry of Information regular press briefing in Monrovia, Assistant Health Minister for Curative Services, Dr. Saye Dahn Bawo, said with the government’s efforts and its partners, all major health facilities  are now reopened and functional, Daily Observer reports.