Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan on Wednesday, September 9, received in audience the newly appointed UN Secretary General Special Representative to the United Nations Mission in Liberia, (UNMIL) Mr. Farid Zarif when the incoming Envoy paid a courtesy call on the Honorable Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the ceremony took place in the conference room on the fourth floor of the building.

While congratulating the SRSG for his preferment, the Honorable Foreign Minister welcomed him and stated "we have no doubt that you have come with the necessary credentials to do a good job here".

"Madam President was very happy when she was briefed on your coming to our shores, especially someone who is very familiar with Liberia; we know that your coming is at a critical period in the life of UNMIL in the country as it prepares to draw down its forces.

Welcoming the new Envoy to Liberia, Foreign Minister Ngafuan noted that President Johnson Sirleafs was very pleased with the selection of Mr. Farid Zarif   as the SRSG to the United Nations Mission in Liberia.   

"When we heard that you would be coming to our shores the President joyfully endorsed it and we also at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs endorsed your coming here, and we know your coming is at a critical juncture in the life of UNMIL in this country, it is not so much of how you build it, but how you dismantle;   this dismantling is very positive in a way, because Liberia has to step in and take its own responsibility.  In the phase way, while you dismantle the external structures through UNMIL, we are building the internal structures through the army, and the security sector in general,” the Dean of the Cabinet remarked with great satisfaction.

The Foreign Minister said the incoming SRSG has what he referred to as double mandate which is not just to dismantle a building, but also to construct the   replacement..

Foreign Minister said he entertains no doubt that given the credential the incoming Envoy possesses, and the passion he has for Liberia, he has come with the necessary credential and energy  to do a good job here in Liberia assuring that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would  do all in its reach to cooperate and assist him in navigating through the Liberian  government bureaucracy.

 He stressed that the Foreign Ministry which is the first Ministry of Government and serves as the Dean of the cabinet, would always remain supportive of  the efforts of accredited diplomats, making sure that diplomat are happy  while serving here in Liberia as Envoys . He urged the SRSG to count on his Ministry for whatever assistance he needs in the performance of his duty here.

While applauding the outgoing SRSG for the mutual cooperation, the Minister highlighted that his Ministry looks forward to a successful stay for the envoys in Liberia.

For his part, the SRSG thanked the Government and People of Liberia particularly the Minister of Foreign Affairs, for the trust and confidence they have began reposing in him even before he formally takes office in Liberia, to commence his function as  UN Secretary General Special Representative to Liberia.

In brief statement, the UN Special Representative said   "I feel privilege to have received your endorsement of my coming and I am happy for the warm reception received so far, since my arrival here in Liberia, which I believe has   made me steadfast in my commitment to serve the people of Liberia".

The UN Envoy said that the dismantling of structures by the UNMIL here in Liberia in the first phase of the drawdown is a clear testimony of the numerous progress and accomplishments made by the Liberia government and its people.

He recalled that the collective strives made by the Liberian people have further increased their confidence to the extent that they can now take over some of the initiatives that the international community had  embarked upon before, stressing that the   international community  will only complement their efforts here.

 He then hailed the leadership of Liberia for the huge accomplishments despite all the growing challenges and calamity including the outbreak of Ebola in the region.

He further recounted that though Liberia has faced numerous problems, the nation has tried to consolidated it efforts throughout the difficult periods of the civil war and the outbreak of Ebola here, in which the country has managed to overcome its ugly past, making it a success story and being the first nation to defeat Ebola among the worst affected countries in the region.    

The SRSG stated that all of the recognitions and acknowledgments of the successes made can be attributed to the resilience of the people of Liberia, and the strong and determined leadership of the country.  He stressed that despite all   gains the international community should not turn its back from Liberia but remain engaged with the country throughout the  period of transition in order that UNMIL may  sustain the peace  and  enable Liberia reach its capacity level to take full ownership of  its  major security institutions. 

while pledging further commitment,  he said before coming  to Liberia,  he  had had  discussions   with some  officials on the Security Council urging them to rally supports  and engaged  Liberia   despite  the  many  achievements  made  by    the international  community  here.

He indicated that though the Security Council has set a deadline for the end of its mission in Liberia, it does not mean that the international community shall fold its hands and watch Liberia sinks into another crisis, expressing confidence, that the international community would remain engaged with Liberia, even after UNMIL draws down from the nation with the aim to help rebuild Liberia.   

 He added that Liberia can count on him for support at the same time promising to work very closely with other partners and members of the diplomatic corps here to bring the kind of changes that Liberia needs to fully recover.