Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has hailed the Government and People of the Kingdom of Sweden for the bilateral assistance that European country continues to render Liberia and its people including its contributions to the fight against the deadly Ebola virus.   

The Liberian Foreign Minster spoke on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 when the visiting Swedish Minister of International Development Cooperation, Madam Isabellah Lovin paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two officials held brief discussions shortly before the Swedish envoy met with the Liberian       leader at her Foreign Ministry’s office.

 Welcoming the Swedish Envoy at the Ministry, Foreign Minister Ngafuan on behalf of the President, Government and People of Liberia thanked the Government and the People of Sweden through its visiting minister for the bilateral supports and for remaining with Liberia throughout the Ebola outbreak.

Minster Ngafuan stated that Liberia and Sweden have had very strong bilateral relations which date back to the 50s when Sweden was involved with huge private sector engagement in Liberia.  The Minster recalled Sweden’s investment in Liberia through joint venture with an American Company which led to the establishment of a productive iron ore company, LAMCO in northern Liberia.

Foreign Minister Ngafuan observed Sweden direct partnership with Liberia stressing that the country has been with Liberia through thick and thin especially during the deadly Ebola outbreak in Liberia emphasizing that Sweden is one of Liberia’s strongest bilateral partners that was among European countries that contributed troops to the United Nations Peace Mission in Liberia.

Also making remarks at the reception held in honor of  the visiting guest at the Royal Grand Hotel on Tuesday, the Foreign Minister further recounted Sweden’s supports to the Liberia recovery stating “you have been with us through thick and thin, in our recovery even before Ebola something. I can personally testify to that, because I was involved in my previous capacity as Minister of Finance.

Minister Ngafuan especially hailed Swedish support through the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), to the country’s Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) that helped Liberia’s economic recovery process, which he said was stepped up following the deadly Ebola outbreak when Sweden provided significant assistance toward the fight against Ebola.   

“What Ebola did, was it made us to see our true friends, true friends came to us they never left from us, the Liberian people are very very grateful to you,   while others were leaving us, your diplomatic officials were here, they did not leave us; though Ebola does not respect races, they were all on the battle front with us”, the Minister remarked at the reception.

Recounting the Ebola challenges, Minister Ngafuan added one aspect of the crisis is to deal with the Ebola, and then deal with the psychological, social and economic consequences of the disease. 

Earlier, the visiting Sweden’s Minister of International Development Cooperation Ms. Isabellah  Lovin  who has just been elected the new Co-Chair for International Dialogue and Peace building & state building , while in brief discussion with the Minister at the Foreign Ministry before meeting with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf  indicated that she was in Liberia to hold discussions with its officials and stake holders on post Ebola recovery  plan that  could  require her government’s  intervention.   

The Swedish Minster of International Development Cooperation and Co-Chair for the International Dialogue and Peace building & State Building said while in the region, she will hold discussions with authorities of Sierra Leone as well, so as to acquaint herself with their post Ebola recovery plans and to see what assistance her country can provide to these efforts, at the same time dialoguing with peace building partners in the affected countries.     

Madam Lovin then thanked Liberia through its Minister of Foreign Affairs for supporting Sweden’s interest at the level of the Security Council and applauded the Government and People of Liberia for their determination and courage in tackling the outbreak that is ravaging the West African sub-region.