United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Marjon V. Kamara, on her preferment as the country’s third female foreign minister.

Mr. Ban described Foreign Minister Kamara as a seasoned and active Liberian diplomat who has played an important role while serving as Liberia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.  

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the UN Secretary-General made the assertion recently at the United Nations headquarters in New York when Ambassador Kamara had gone to take leave of him as she assumes her new responsibilities as Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Before her preferment, Ms. Kamara, served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations from September 2009 to December 2015. She was also Ambassador-Designate to the Republic of Cuba.

Mr. Ban expressed the hope that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will find a suitable replacement for Minister Kamara, who ably represented Liberia at that august world organization.  

While wishing Ms. Kamara success and good luck on her new assignment, the UN Secretary-General commended President Sirleaf for nominating one of Liberia‘s finest and competent female diplomats to serve as Foreign Minister, especially during this critical time in the country’s history.

Welcoming Madam Kamara at his office earlier, Secretary-General Ban alluded to the excellent cooperation and collaboration between Liberia and the UN, particularly on matters relating to security, health, the rule of law, and other critical areas over the years, noting that the UN looks forward to enhancing mutual cooperation with Liberia. 

The UN Secretary-General acknowledged receipt of the joint letter from President Sirleaf and her Ivorian counterpart, President Alassane Ouattara, regarding the drawdown of the United Nations Missions in Liberia (UNMIL) and promised to submit a report to the UN Security Council shortly; adding that it is important to ensure Liberia maintains the momentum in its reconstruction and transitioning processes. 

Mr. Ban further praised Foreign Minister Kamara for her recent speech delivered during the 59^th Armed Forces Day celebration and reaffirmed that it was a significant reflection about how Liberia moves on in the post-UNMIL epoch. He urged the Liberian Government to solicit resources to strengthen its security sector, especially the Liberia National Police. 

The Secretary-General hailed the strong ties and excellent cooperation subsisting among Member States of the Mano River Union (MRU) and the sub-regional body, ECOWAS. 

Commenting on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN Secretary-General hoped that Liberia would take ownership of the SDGs and disclosed that the UN is preparing to organize two high-level meetings on the SDGs and climate change, respectively on April 21-22, 2016.

He appealed for President Sirleaf’s participation at these high-level events, which he said will be followed, on April 22, 2016, by a signing ceremony of the Climate Change Agreement reached in 2015. 

Responding, Foreign Minister Kamara thanked the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban, for the warm reception accorded her during her farewell courtesy call and added that the visit was necessary to officially take leave of him. She expressed gratitude to Mr. Ban for the cordial working relationship; stressing that it was wonderful working with him over the past few years. 

She particularly commended the UN Secretary-General for the steadfast support he continues to give the country especially during the reconstruction era. She noted that prior to her appointment as Liberia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, the organization had already started providing funding to enhance the country’s peace building efforts.   

Ambassador Kamara expressed thanks to the UN Secretary-General for the opportunity given her to serve in major capacities at the UN including a member of the UN Civilian Capacity and the Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, where she represented the Liberian leader on many occasions.

Minister Kamara told Mr. Ban that she was very pleased to return to Liberia to contribute her quota to the post-war development drive of the country, having resided abroad since 1980. 

On the issue of the joint letter from Presidents Sirleaf and Ouattara, Foreign Minister Kamara requested the Secretary-General to give the matter due consideration and noted further that the Liberian police force needs to do more, assuring that she would continue to be an advocate for adequate resources for the police.                      

On the SDGs, Minister Kamara informed Mr. Ban that Liberia has begun taking actions, including a briefing provided to the Cabinet so that they have a general knowledge and understanding of the development initiative. She informed him of a formal launch of the SDGs to create awareness in Liberia.

She indicated that a team from the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) are expected to begin work to align the SDGs with Liberia’s development initiatives, including the Agenda for Transformation, and Vision 2030. Madam Kamara also said Africa’s Vision 2063 would be integrated in the national development programs.