THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

The Government of Liberia and Mauritania agreement for the provision of LD$37 million grant to assist in the fight against the Ebola virus disease and the visit of the National Election Board to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf are among stories dominating today’s summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORY

Consolidating Ties: Mauritanian President Pays Two-Day VisitTo Liberia

The President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, His Excellency, Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdul Aziz, says his government will work with Liberia to consolidate the relations between both countries. “We will work and consolidate the relations between our two countries,” he assured, urging President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to join him to further strengthen the bilateral relations as it was in the past. The FrontPage Africa newspaper quotes an Executive Mansion release as saying that President Mohamed Ould Abdul Aziz made the statement when he and President Sirleaf addressed a joint press stakeout in the Foyer of the Foreign Ministry on Monday, January 5, 2015. The Mauritanian President who is also the current Chairman of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government was in Liberia on a solidarity two-day visit. He had arrived from the Republic of Guinea on a similar visit.His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdul Aziz reiterated that this Ebola challenge being experienced by countries in sub-region and by extension the region should consolidate our solidarity and our mutual support to each other; noting that though it has been a serious challenge, this will help countries in the region come out more determined to unite through our bilateral relations which had been very strong in the past.Earlier, welcoming His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to Liberia, President Sirleaf recalled the relationship between both countries which predate Mauritanian’s independence. She indicated that Liberia and Mauritania Heads of State have exchanged numerous visits as well as signed communiqués, cooperation agreements and protocols. “This visit gives us the opportunity to once again strengthen and deepen that relationship,” she stressed.President Sirleaf particularly thanked the Mauritanian President for the leadership he has exhibited as current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and the personal effort made to mobilize resources to support the three countries worst affected by the Ebola virus disease. As part of the visit, at the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium, both Liberia’s President Sirleaf and Mauritanian President H.E. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, witnessed the signing of an agreement between both governments for the provision of LD$37 million grant to assist in the fight against the Ebola virus disease. The Minister of Finance and Development Planning,  Amara Konneh signed on behalf of the Government of Liberia, while the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Mr. SidiOuldTah signed on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.He departed Liberia on Tuesday, January 6, for Sierra Leone in continuation of his visit to the three worst countries affected by the Ebola.

Related Captions: Mauritania Commits US$400,000 To Ebola Fight…As AU Pledges More Support To Ebola Affected Countries(The Inquirer), Mauritanian President Pays Two-Day Solidarity Visit To Liberia(The Analyst)

NEC Board Visits Ellen

The Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) led by its Chairman, Cllr. Jerome Kokoyah paid a special visit to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Tuesday, December 30, 2014.According to an Executive Mansion release, the visit was aimed at briefing the Liberian President on the outcome of the 2014 Special Senatorial Election and to formally present to her the results. The meeting took place in the temporary office of President Sirleaf at the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia.On behalf of the NEC board, Chairman Korkoya thanked President Sirleaf for respecting and protecting the independence of the National Election Commission, saying, “You promised just that when you appointed me along with other Commissioners and I am pleased that you kept your word; you absolutely respected our independence and there was no interference. This is a real boost to our democracy and we owe it to you and the Government of Liberia”. In response, President Sirleaf thanked the NEC for efficiently and effectively managing the Special Senatorial Election process.  The Liberian leader expressed serious concern about the low voter turnout and stressed that government was still trying to find out what was responsible.She stressed that it was important for the NEC to do a critical reflection on the process and find out what could be done much better next time especially as the country moves toward general and presidential elections in 2017.Chairman Kokoyah was accompanied by NEC’s Co-chair Sarah Toe, Commissioners Jonathan Weedor, Davidetta Brown Lassana, Sam Joe and Executive Director, Lamin Leigh, according to the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: NEC Hails Pres. Sirleaf  For Respecting, Protecting Its Independence(In Profile Daily), NEC Board Of Commissioners Visit Pres. Sirleaf(WEST AFRICA INFO POST), NEC Hails Ellen For Respecting, Protecting its Independence(The Informer)

Liberian Belgium-Based Group Gives To Orphanage

At least, 30 orphans began the New Year with smiles when they became beneficiaries of a supply of assorted food and non-food items and cash from the United Liberia Association in Belgium (ULAB). The Belgium based Liberian association, through its Coordinator Gertrude A. Kronyahn, on Thursday, January 1, 2015 delivered the supplies that included several bags of rice, flour, sugar, and gallons of oil, boxes of Quaker oats, butter, Clorox, and other disinfectants, among others, to the Love A Child Orphanage Home located on the Roberts field Highway outside Monrovia.MsKronyanh said the donation was the group's noble gesture towards the needy children of Liberia which ULAB hopes and prays to continue.She called on other Liberians, irrespective of their locations, to stand in solidarity with one another, adding, "We should work tirelessly to ensure that our peace is strengthened by our actions”. Both Mr. Albert Wreh and Mrs. Rebecca Wreh, founders of the orphanage, thanked ULAB for the continual support.  "God will continue to bless the work of your hands", they added, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Belgium-Liberian Based Group Identifies With Orphans(The News), Belgium Liberian- Based Group Identifies With Needy Orphans(FOCUS)

Oxford University Begins Trial…For Ebola Treatment

A clinical trial for treatment of Ebola sufferers has begun at the ELWA 3, Ebola Management Center in Paynesville. The trial, according to a MFS rease, is led by Oxford University based in the United Kingdom and funded by the welcome trust. The release said the trial aims to determine if the anti-viral drug brincidofovir is an effective treatment for Ebola. MSF said taking part in the trial is completely voluntary and the trial is designed without a control group in order to include as many Ebola positive patients, the News newspaper writes.

Related Captions: Oxford University Begins Trial For Possible Ebola Treatment At ELWA 3 (FrontPage Africa), Another Experimental Drug(In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES

Nine Counties Report Zero Ebola Cases For Over 21 Days

The In Profile Daily quotes an official of the United Nations Mission on Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) as saying that nine counties mostly in Southeastern Liberia have reported no new Ebola cases over the past 21 days.  Hans Rosling said Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Grand Kru, Maryland, Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Bassa and Rivercess have reported no confirmed cases of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) for more than 21 days, while Lofa County in Northern Liberia has reported zero case in more than 40 days. According to the daily, the UNMEER official spoke at the Information Ministry daily Ebola briefing on Monday. He expressed the hope that that the situation would remain under control and that there would not be a resurgence of the disease in those counties.

Related Captions: 9 Counties Report Zero Ebola Cases For over 21 Days(Heritage)

Liberia Labor Congress Gets US$30,000

The All-China Federation Union has presented a check in the tune of thirty thousand United States Dollars (US$30,000.00) to the Liberia Embassy in Beijing as a solidarity contribution to the Liberian Labor Congress as part of efforts to support Liberia’s fight against Ebola. Speaking at a program at the Union’s head Office in Beijing, Mr. La Yubing, President and Party Representative of the congress averred that the contribution was his union’s way of identifying with the Liberia Labor Congress during the time of the Ebola Virus Epidemic. He said the decision to identify with the Liberian Labor Congress was due to the fact that the Ebola Ebola Virus Epidemic had a devastating effect on the effect on the activities of the Liberian Labor Force, which was compelled to halt all of its activities. Receiving the check on behalf of the Liberia Labor Congress, the Liberian Ambassador to China, Mr. Dudley Mckinley Thomas expressed gratitude on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia most especially the Liberian Labor Congress for the humanitarian gesture made by the All China Federation Union.

UNMIL Chinese Contingent To Upgrade Grand Gedeh Roads

According to the Heritage newspaper, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) hasbeen entered into between the Grand Gedeh County Administration and the Resident UNMIL Chinese Engineering Contingent to upgrade some roads in the County. The Grand Gedeh County Project Planner, Washington SaaYonly who made the disclosure in Zwedru, said the project will commence this month. He said clearing has started in Dougee Town, Bh’hai Administrative District for overnight storage of equipment as well as a camp for workers during operation on the Toe Town/PutuPenniken road linking the county with River County.