President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a condolence message to the Government and people of the Republic of Turkey following the tragic terror attack in Turkey’s southeastern province of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border on August 20, 2016. The suicide bomber attacked a wedding party.

The blast, which occurred at around 11 p.m. local time on Saturday in the Akdere neighborhood of Sahinbey district claimed the lives of over fifty (50) persons and left about sixty-nine (69) others wounded.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, in her message to the President of the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Raecep Tayyip Erdogan, President Sirleaf, on behalf of Liberia expressed deepest sympathy and condolences to the Government and people of Turkey, especially the families of the victims. 

The Liberian leader assured that as Turkey goes through this difficult period of mourning, Liberia will join many other nations of the world in condemning such inhumane and unjustifiable attacks particularly so on peaceful and innocent civilians.

“We use this occasion to reiterate our solidarity with Turkey and assure that Liberia stands with you in this agonizing time,” she stressed with deep sorrow.

President Sirleaf prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured and for the continued harmony among the people of Turkey.

In another development, the Liberian President, also during the week, sent a warm congratulatory message to the Government and people of the Republic of Ukraine on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, on the historic occasion commemorating the 25th Independence Anniversary of that country.

Independence Day of Ukraine is the main state holiday in modern Ukraine, celebrated on August 24, each year in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence of 1991.

President Sirleaf recalled that the two countries recorded an increase in their bilateral trade turnover and noted that Liberia and Ukraine continue to enjoy cordial and promising friendship.

She also assured her Ukrainian counterpart that, Liberia like Ukraine attaches great importance to the flourishing relations and shared vision of both countries for the enhancement and enrichment of cooperation in the years ahead for the mutual benefit of the two nations and peoples.

She then wished for President of the Republic of Ukraine, His Excellency Petro Poroshenko, continued good health and success and for the people of Ukraine, the blessings of lasting peace and prosperity.