Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

 

Today’s selected stories include, the commissioning of the New Liberian Ambassador to China, news on the just ended African Union Summit in Malabo, the completion of 11 sub- project of Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment as well as President Johnson Sirleaf’s donation to Leprosy Center and the appointment of African Peer Review Mechanism Interim CEO.

 

 From Paris To China, New Envoy Commits To Strengthening Ties

 

Liberia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary accredited to the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Dudley McKinley Thomas was on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 commissioned as Liberia’s Ambassador accredited near Beijing with a commitment to further strengthening economic and political ties between Liberia and the People’s Republic of China. Speaking at a well-attended commissioning ceremony in the conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Thomas said the People’s Republic of China has emerged on the global stage as an economic and political giant. Ambassador Thomas praised China for engaging Africa, including Liberia in its development drive through strong partnership and supporting African positions on global issues in various international fora. ”My mission is to further strengthen the new foreign policy thrust of economic and development diplomacy during my tour of duty in China”, Ambassador Thomas remarked. He then lauded China’s support in the achievements of Liberia’s developmental goals which are evident by wide spread  Chinese establishments and initiatives in Liberia, particularly under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf  whose personal diplomacy has successfully restored the  country’s battered image.  The seasoned Liberian diplomat noted that Liberia is once again regarded as a responsible member of the international community. “Liberia’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China has been fruitful and rewarding……which President Sirleaf attaches great importance to”, Ambassador Thomas added. Ambassador Thomas expressed gratitude to President Sirleaf for the confidence reposed in his ability to undertake the challenging assignment of serving not only as her personal representative, but also as Ambassador of Liberia to the PRC, a country with approximately 1.4 billion people. While acknowledging  his long diplomatic  service,   Ambassador Thomas expressed his honor and deep humility to take on his new assignment, stating that  whatever success he achieved  during his over  16 years in the Foreign Service  in Brussels, Belgium as Commercial Counselor and Ambassador can be  attributed  to  the Almighty’s  favor and  gracious mercy which he said had  provided him with wisdom during the challenging time of his career.  Speaking earlier Acting Foreign Minister Ambassador Sylvester M. Grigsby, who on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administered the oath of office as he proxied for Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan paid special tribute to the honoree, describing him as one of Liberia’s seasoned credible and productive diplomats who represented Liberia’s interest at all levels, especially during his ten years’ assignment as Liberian Ambassador near Paris, France. “He served in Paris for about ten years very creditably and very productively; that as an ambassador when you have your Head-of-State visit your jurisdiction, it is a crowning moment and Ambassador Thomas had several crowning moments during his tenure in Paris and each time the President visited him, he proved more fruitful and more productive; so due to his excellent performances, it was not by chance that the President decided to transfer him to China as our ambassador in that great country”, Minister Grigsby remarked. The Acting Foreign Minister then expressed his optimism over Ambassador Thomas’ skills that would lead to more fruitful dynamic relations with the People’s Republic of China. “We know that while you were in Paris, you kept a very cordial relationship with your counterpart here in Monrovia, the French Ambassador and I understand that you already started to establish links with the Chinese Embassy here; so that bodes well for coordination and cooperation. So we do expect, I don’t think it is an empty expectation that this relation will become much more enriched by your presence in the mission”, Ambassador. Grigsby averred. The ceremony was attended by high profiled Liberian Government Officials including Dr. Edward McClain, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Acting Chair of the Cabinet, the Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, His Excellency Zhang Yue, Amb.  George W. Wallace, Sr., Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs, Former Chief of Protocol Ambassador Eddie Dunn and   Amb. Marcus Kofa, Senior Ambassador-At-Large, amongst others, FrontPage Africa quotes a Foreign Ministry’s release..

 

Related Caption: Liberia Sends New Ambassador To China (Daily Observer), Liberia Ambassador To China Commits To Strengthening Economic and Political Ties Between Liberia And China (The Analyst), Liberia-China Ties On New Horizon (The New Republic)

 

At AU Conference In Malabo – President Sirleaf Begs For Domestic Support

 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has begun pushing for support from high level delegation from the United States attending the ongoing African Union 23^rd Summit to help with implementation of electricity project in Liberia. President Sirleaf’s request for assistance came at the ongoing conference in Malabo when she met with U.S. high level delegation comprising former Ambassadors Liberia Linda Thomas Greenfield, now Assistant secretary of State for African Affairs, and Donald Booth. Intent for the meeting between the |Liberian leader and the US delegation is to identify what the United States should place on its agenda for the US Africa bilateral meeting expected to be held on August 5, and 6 this year in Washington, Daily Observer reports.

 

 

Pres. Sirleaf Meets U.S. Delegation –Ahead Of US-Africa Leaders’ Summit

 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has met with a high-level United States  delegation and discussed bilateral issues including the upcoming United States – African Leaders Summit scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C. on August 5-6, 2014. According to a Dispatch from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the meeting took place on the fringes of the African |Union’s 23^rd ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, The Analyst reports.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Chairs Two Meetings (FOCUS), Pres. Sirleaf Meets US Delegation In Malabo (FOCUS), Pres. Sirleaf Chairs Two Meetings At AU Summit In Malabo (INSIGHT), Pres. Sirleaf Meets US Delegation Before US-Africa Summit (INSIGHT)

 

APRM Appoints Interim CEO

President of Liberia and Chairperson of the African Peer Review Mechanism Forum H.E. Ellen Sirleaf Johnson has announced the appointment of an interim Chief Executive officer, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki to steer the affairs of the APRM Secretariat pending the recruitment of a permanent CEO. Announcing the decision of the participating Heads of States of the African Peer Review Forum following its 21^st Summit in Malabo, The NEWS reveals.

Related Caption: APRM Forum Appoints Interim CEO (The Analyst), APRM Forum appoints Intern CEO (New Dawn)

LINHA Launches US$16,000 Appeal

The Liberia National Handball Association (LINHA) has launched an appeal to Chief Patron of Sports Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to assist the male and female Lone Star handball teams with US$16, 000 to represent the country in the upcoming Zone III Handball Competition in Lome, Togo. The President of LINHA, J. Mason Saweler told the Daily Observer in an interview yesterday that the US$16, 000 is aimed to buy jerseys, dressing suits and sneakers for the teams and technical staff to be in uniformity.

 

DEA Ready To Fight Drugs – As Drug Law Is Finally Passed

Now that thre National Legislature has demonstrated significant progress in passage of the Anti-Drug Law, the Director of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Anthony Souh has acknowledged that fight against narcotic and other harmful substances has become legal and enforceable, Daily Observer writes.

Related Caption: DEA Marks Anti-Drugs Day (FOCUS)

 

LACE Completes 11 Sub-Projects

The Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE) says it has now completed at least 11 sub-projects out of the 28 sub-projects. These are projects for which the agency has received full and partial funding from the Ministry of Finance under the Legislative Support Project (LSP) for the fiscal year 2012/2013. The Management of the Agency has described as untrue statement attributed to Deputy Finance Minister for Budget Sebastian Muah, suggesting that LACE had not shown a single project that it has completely done with money received from the Ministry of Finance, the NEWS reports.

 

FDA Underscores VPA/Media Importance-Ends 5-Day Seminar On Public Communications

The Team Leader of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement-Support Unit (VPA-SU) of the Forestry Development Authority, John Casey, has underscored that media play an important role in the implementation of the VPA in Liberia. The VPA is an agreement signed between the Liberian Government and the European Unit aimed at stopping illegal logging in the country. It also allows legally acquired timbers to leave Liberia for Europe and others parts of the world. The agreement came into force on December 1, 2013, Daily Observer reports.

 

 President Sirleaf Donates Motorbike To Leprosy Center

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has donated a motorbike to the Suakoko Leprosy Center in Bong County to help ease the transportation problem at the center. The Coordinator of the President’s Office, Toe Wesseh, presented the motorbike Thursday to the spokesman of the Suakoko Leprosy Center, Steve Kennedy, in Congo Town. According to Mr. Wesseh, the donation was in fulfillment of a promise President Sirleaf made recently to the center when she went to dedicate the Angie Brooks Youth Center in Bong County, INSIGHT reports.

 

‘We Are Proud Of You’ – VP Boakai Tells Contingent Of AFL Who Departed For Mali Yesterday

Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai, Jr., Bids the Departing Troops Farewell by individual Hand-shake. Vice President Joseph Nyumai Boakai, Sr. has described the conduct of soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) as “professional,” which depicts the various degrees of trainings they (soldiers) have endured over the years. According to V.P. Boakai, the actions of the soldiers further indicate that Liberia has transformed from a pariah state to join in restoration of peace and stability in other brotherly West African nations. Veep Boakai gave the description of the soldiers early yesterday at the Robert International Airport (RIA) when the Ministry of National Defense (MOD), in collaboration with the leadership of the AFL, held a joint ceremony commemorating the departure and arrival for the Liberian Peacekeeping Contingent to Mali, Daily Observer reports.

Related Caption: AFL Peacekeepers Return From Mali…New Batch Departs (Inquirer), 2^nd AFL Platoon Deploys To Mali (New Democrat), VP Boakai Urges AFL To Guard Liberia’s Image In Mali (INSIGHT)

 

Police Blasts Media Report

Department of Press and Public Affairs has over the Thursday2014 edition of the National Chronicle newspaper accusing the hierarchy of the Liberia National Police (LNP) of selling police materials including reflector jackets meant for officers of the LNP. A statement under the signature of he LNP spokesman described the publication as the work of anti police agents who lacks understanding of the inner working of the police. Mr. Sam Collins said at no time did the LNP hierarchy order the issuance of reflector jackets to officers, least to say sell as was reported by the National Chronicle, FOCUS reports.

 

 

EPA Gets US$415k To Ease Flooding

Mr. Stephen Y. Neufville, Acting Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has called on Liberians to be supportive to a study to be conducted by the agency in effort to address flooding in Montserrado County. Speaking at the Ministry of Information Thursday, Mr. Neufville said the EPA in collaboration with sector ministries was poised to conduct a study on the causes of flooding in the county, INSIGHT reports.