The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is aware of the banking situation obtaining in the United States affecting the Liberian Missions in Washington DC, the Permanent Mission at the United Nations and the Consulate in New York City. The crisis arose from a recent decision taken by banks in the US to terminate their relationship with over 80 diplomatic missions in the US including Liberia. 

 

 

The Ministry reiterates that the closure of banking accounts is a situation not unique to Liberia but rather affects 80 other diplomatic missions operating in the United States of which Liberia is part. The Foreign Ministry in a statement said it is working with the US State Department, the Liberian Missions in DC and New York, US Embassy near Monrovia, as well as the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Liberia to resolve the problem in the shortest possible time.

 

 

The Ministry recalled that US Commercial Banks  carried out similar action two years ago that affected almost the same number of diplomatic missions. The Ministry said interim measures are being worked out to address the issue of payment of salaries and operational needs of the missions in DC and New York for the next quarter until the banking situation affecting Diplomatic missions in the US is permanently resolved.