The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2017

Today’s summary of the local dailies highlights news of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Liberia and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the Government of Liberia’s call for calm in the wake of confirmation of the occurrence of an earthquake on the Richter scale off the coast of Liberia, the donation of a state-of-the-art scanner and a laptop to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by an Austrian businessman, Mr. Manuel Tschorn, among others.

Liberia, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Establish Diplomatic Relations

The Heritage newspaper reads that Liberia and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal have established formal diplomatic relations between the two countries. A dispatch from Liberia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations says a joint communiqué, guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter and the desire by both countries to promote mutual understanding and strengthen friendship and cooperation was signed by the two counties. Liberia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency Ambassador Lewis Garseedah Brown, II, signed on behalf of the Liberian Government; while His Excellency Ambassador Durga Prasad Bhattarai signed on behalf of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The ceremony took place at Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on Friday, August 18, 2017.

Govt. Gives Earthquake Alert

The Government of Liberia has urged all citizens to remain calm but alert in the wake of confirmation last Friday, 18 August that an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale occurred approximately 880 kilometers off the coast of Liberia. Quoting a press release signed by Information Minister, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, the New Dawn newspaper reads that although the incident poses no immediate threat of a tsunami occurring, citizens should remain alert. The release says the United States Geological Service, which is monitoring the
situation, has provided useful technical information to the Government of
Liberia.

Related Caption: 2 Earthquakes Recorded Offshore Liberia Today Second Earthquake In The Same Vicinity Occurred Today At 3:35 P.M., Reports USGS (Daily Observer)

Austrian Businessman, Mr. Tschorn,  Donates Atate-of-the-Art  Scanner  And Laptop To The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, Foreign Minister Marjon Kamara has expressed thanks and appreciation to an Austrian businessman who donated a state-of-the-art scanner and a laptop to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enhance the work of the bureau of archives. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Liberia’s top diplomat made the assertion when she received the items from Mr. Manuel Tschorn, on behalf of the Foreign Ministry recently. She reflected on how important documents stored at the Foreign Ministry’s bureau of archives were vandalized during the civil war.  Foreign Minister Kamara assured that with this donation, documents in the bureau of archives will be scanned and properly preserved for easy reference and posterity.  Speaking earlier, Mr. Tschorn, who has frequented Liberia over the last 10 years, recounted being invited to visit the bureau of archives by its director, Mr. Morris Kollie last year. Following that tour, he said he saw the need for the preservation of these valuable and irreplaceable documents.  This state-of-the-art scanner has Wi-Fi and cloud service; replaces up to 18 regular scanning machines; scans 60 double pages per minute; makes searchable PDFs (finds key-words) in scanned documents; aligns images straight by help of laser technology; while curve double pages appear flat automatically. 

Relation Caption: Austrian Businessman Donates State-of-the-Art Scanner and Laptop to Foreign Ministry (Heritage)  

54 Peace Corps Volunteers To Help Liberia Education Sector In 13 Counties 

The FrontPage Africa newspaper says at least 54 Americans are currently in Liberia as Peace Corps volunteers to help upbeat the country’s educational system. The 54 volunteers will serve in13 counties joining 41 others who are currently serving in the 15 counties. The volunteers are here for two years working with the Ministry of Education to coordinate activities which will improve the lives of Liberian students. The swearing in of the 54 occurred on Friday at the Monrovia City Hall and was attended by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Charges d’ affaires of U.S. Embassy, cabinet ministers and Government officials.nThe Charge d’ Affaires of U.S Embassy Samuel Watson recalled when he was a peace Corps volunteer sent to Morocco to teach English in a rural high school. He urged the volunteers to represent the United States and share their skills, abilities and goodwill commending them for answering the call to service. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf commended the volunteers pledging that the respective counties will keep them safe. Sirleaf said volunteer’s contribution to Science and Math subjects will make a great difference to the country’s educational system. 

Related Caption: Peace Corps, Congratulated, Challenged To Do Well In Their Assignment (Heritage)

Acting Defense Minister Calls For More Training

Liberia’s Acting Defense Minister, Joseph F. Johnson, on Friday, August 18, 2017, calls for more training opportunities from the Government United States of America for men and women of the Armed Forces of Liberia.  Minister Johnson noted that the training received from the U.S. Government have brought credibility and professionalism to the Armed Forces Liberia.  Minister Johnson made these assertions when a seven-member delegation comprising three staff members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Armed Services Committee paid an office call on him at his Barclay Training Center office on the United Nations Drive. The FrontPage Africa newspaper says the purpose of their visit was to gain oversight on the significant Security Cooperation partnership between the United States and the Republic of Liberia.

Related Caption: Acting Defense Minister calls for more US. Support to Train AFL Personnel (Heritage)

NEC Launches Civic Voter Education

A back page story of the Heritage newspaper states that the National Elections Commission (NEC) has launched Civic Voter Education (CVE) across the country. The CVE is aimed at providing voters the necessary education to make informed decisions throughout the electoral process and to understand their civic responsibilities and roles in the elections process. Speaking at the launching ceremony at the Headquarters of the NEC on Friday, NEC Chairman, Jerome Korkoya, said the Commission has put in place the requisite administrative structure and strategies to reach out to every county, city, village, and clan within the borders of Liberia to create the necessary awareness for the maximum participation of all eligible citizens in these elections, the paper says 

President Sirleaf Joins Sierra Leonean Counterpart at Mudslide Victims’ Burial

According to the Daily Observer, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf last Thursday joined her Sierra Leonean counterpart, President Ernest Bai Koroma, for the burial of last Monday’s mudslide and flood victims at the Paloko Cemetery in Waterloo on the outskirts of Freetown. Over 400 people have been confirmed dead while more than 600 remain missing from the disaster. Workers struggled in the thick mud and debris of smashed homes last week in search of more bodies.  According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf departed Monrovia on Thursday August 17 after signing the Book of Condolence at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Congo Town, Monrovia.

Ellen Consoles Kingdom Of Spain Following Terrorist Attack

The Heritage newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of condolence to His Majesty, King Felipe VI of Spain, in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain, on Thursday, August 17, 2017. Media reports indicate that at least 13 people are dead and more than 100 injured after a van careened through a crowd in one of Barcelona’s tourist hotspots, Las Ramblas.  According to a Foreign Ministry release, in the condolence message to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Spain, President Sirleaf said to King Felipe VI, “This is indeed a difficult period for us all, particularly the people of Spain; because any evil perpetrated against one member of the international community affects us all,” adding that Liberia joins other peace loving nations of the world in condemning and denouncing this brutal and callous act which has no place in our society.   

SRSG Zarif Admonishes Liberians To Maintain The Peace During The Elections 

The Special Representative of the Secretary General at the UN Mission in Liberia, Mr. Farid Zarif, has called on Liberians to maintain peaceful  in the country during and after the October 10 elections. The UNMIL Boss noted that Liberia has accomplished a lot and needs to build on the peace, and therefore must make sure that there is no setback during the elections. He observed that maintaining the peace and stability in the country is not only the responsibility of the security apparatus but a responsibility that rests on everybody’s shoulder, the Heritage reads. SRSG Zarif made the statement Friday at the launch of the Civic Voter Education Campaign at the NEC Headquarters in the Monrovia suburb of Sinkor, the paper reports.

Several Students Benefit From Vacation Job

Over 1,000 students aged 15-25 years will today, Monday, August 21, 2017 begin a week-long vacation job offered by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS). The one-week job opportunity program is under the auspices of the National Cadet Program of the MYS and will benefit both high school and university students under the age range prescribed. Official launch of the 2017 back to school vacation job program was held at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex (SKD) in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, reads the Heritage newspaper.

Related Caption: Mercy Corps Exposes 205 Students To Job Skills (The New Dawn)

YWCA Gets US$15,000 Worth Of Donation From West African Distributor

The Young Women’s Christian Association of Liberia has received several non-food items including Office Furniture   worth over U$15,000 from West African Distributor. The donation was, amongst other things aimed at helping to improve the lives of underprivileged women and kids in the country.  According to the Operation Manager of West Africa Distributor Joseph Anderson, the items were given by several international donors including the Riffelalp Resort Management, Zermatt and Switzerland for onward donation to other not-for- profit organizations in Liberia. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper some of the items donated include: chairs, children toys, baby carriage, lawn tennis bat, TV stands, office desks, camp beds, among others, reads that FrontPage Africa newspaper.  

Senator Wesseh Proposes Annual Commemoration of CPA 

River Gee County Senator Conmany Wesseh has petitioned the Liberian Senate to legislate an annual commemoration of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which brought to an end the 14 years civil conflict in Liberia. The CPA was consummated on August 18, 2003, bringing to an end 14 years of civil insurrection which claimed the lives ofr an estimated 250,000 people. It was signed by leaders of Liberia’s political parties, civil society warring factions and other relevant bodies to end the civil fracas which was ignited on December 24, 1989. The signing ceremony was held in Accra, Ghana after three months of peace talks. In an interview with legislative reporters recently, Senator Wesseh disclosed that he has petitioned the Liberian Senate through a communication informing them that they should not forget what has been achieved and the immeasurable possibilities of the future in peace, the Heritage newspaper reads.  

Training of Civil Society Organizations Ends In Monrovia 

As part of preparations for the October 10, 2017 elections in Liberia, the Liberia Elections outfit, NEC and UNDP have completed the training of civil society organizations that will act as key civic and voter education partners over the coming months. According to EU press release issued here Friday, the campaign will increase awareness across the country of voters’ rights and responsibilities. In collaboration with the NEC, these organizations will work nationwide to coordinate their activities including engaging communities in a wide variety of Activities to increase participation in, and awareness of the forthcoming elections, Heritage newspaper reports.