The President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Mr. Marcel Alain de Souza, has promised to ask the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and others to do a “standing ovation” for the Chair of ECOWAS Authority, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and her government for the splendid job she has done for the sub-region and her country.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, Mr. de Souza made the assertion during his remarks at the opening of the 38^th Ordinary Ministerial Meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council taking place at the Farmington Hotel in lower Margibi County.

Speaking further, the ECOWAS Commission President providing updates on the sub-region, specifically on the democratic front, said Liberia is the only country that is set to go to presidential and legislative elections in October this year.

He praised the Liberian Government for its handling the electoral process so far.

Formally opening of the meeting, the Chairperson of the Ministerial Council, Madam Marjon V. Kamara who is also Liberia’s Foreign Minister welcomed her colleagues and guests and told them how honored the Government and people of Liberia are by their presence.

“Our President, the Government and people of Liberia are greatly honored by your presence, she said, adding, that the decision to convene these mid-year statutory meetings in Liberia is a very reassuring statement of confidence in the progress which Liberia has made in consolidating peace over the past 13 years that bears testimony to the strong and visionary leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who, with support of partners has kept the Liberian nation on a peaceful course. “ECOWAS, the United Nations and many friendly governments have been indispensable partners in this respect,” Foreign Minister Kamara emphasized.

She further stated that ECOWAS has continued to develop and sharpen the elements of its peace and security architecture since its first deployment to Liberia in August 1990; stressing, “Today our organization is held in high esteem for the decisive and determined posture of ECOWAS leaders and the strategic use of its military assets in the interest of peace, stability and security of ECOWAS citizens.”

Foreign Minister Kamara paid tribute to the President and staff of the ECOWAS Commission for the positive results of their hard work which continues to bring credit to the regional body.

She also extended her appreciation to the Chair of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ambassadorial level and the ECOWAS Ambassadors for their informed contributions on enhancing coordination and policy coherence between the Commission and Member States on regional peace and security matters.

Foreign Minister Kamara, among other things, expressed her expectation that the 38^th MSC Meeting will further enhance their collective initiatives to strengthen the peace and security architecture of the sub-region.

Meanwhile, the two-day Meeting of the 78^th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers takes place on Thursday, June 1st and Friday, June 2nd, at the Farmington Hotel in lower Margibi County.

The Chairperson of Council, Madam Marjon Kamara, who is also Liberia’s Foreign Minister, will welcome her colleagues from the sub-region to Liberia and will chair proceedings; while the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Marcel Alain de Souza, will make a statement setting the stage for the closed-door deliberations.

Agenda items include those for decisions, adoption and information as they prepare the 51^st Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government scheduled for Sunday, June 4^th, 2017. All Heads of State and Government are expected to be in attendance.

Other important dignitaries expected to attend the 51st Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority include the Israeli prime minister, His Excellency Mr. Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu; a high-level delegation from the Moroccan Government, European Union, United Nations, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki, among others.

On the margins of the 51st Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Mano River Union States (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire) will launch the West Africa Power Pool Project which will provide electricity to the countries within the MRU basin.