The Government of Liberia has officially launched the Liberian Biometric ECOWAS Passports Application Center(PAC) in the schengen zone of Europe at the Liberian Embassy near Brussels, Belgium.

The program took place on Saturday, March 14,2015.

Launching the Liberian Biometric ECOWAS Passports Application Center, Liberia's Ambassador-designate to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg and the European Union, Isaac W. Nyenabo,II said the center will ease the hardships, frustration and financial cost of Liberians living in the schengen zone of Europe in obtaining a passport.

Ambassador Nyenabo said Liberians had to either traveled to the United Kingdom, the United States or to Monrovia to apply for and obtain a passport, but added that opening the passport center in the heart of Europe where Liberians in that zone do not require visas to travel, makes it easier and convenient for them.

Ambassador Nyenabo called on Liberians to hold and respect their passport as a national document that must be cared for and protected.

He challenged members of the Liberian Communities in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Luxenburg and others to work close together and play an important role in the development of their country.

The Director of Passports and Visas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Nyanda Finda-Davis said the center has now finally concluded a long discussion that had been taking place in the wake of calls made by Liberians living in the schengen zone to authorities of the Government.

Mrs. Finda-Davis said the center has introduced measures that will ensure that genuine Liberians are processed, screened and issued passports while others who are not Liberians but holding Liberian passports or travel documents will have those documents retrieved.

She called on members of the Liberian Community to assist and work closely with the center in ensuring their work is done without hinderance.

The President of the Liberian Community in Belgium, Kingston Wleh commended President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan for the opening of the center in Brussels, Belgium.

Mr. Wleh said President Sirleaf and Minister Ngafuan at different times assured them of the opening of the  passport center and they were pleased that those promises have been realized.

He said before the now, Liberians living in the schengen zone had to struggle to obtain visas to either travel to the UK, USA or look for travel documents to go to Liberia and wait for weeks before their passports are issues. He said even with that, there was no assurance, they will even get the passport.

He said now with the passport center right in Brussels, Liberians from around Europe will find it very easy and convenient to apply for and get their passports without leaving jobs for weeks or their family for days.

At the official launching program, a Liberian Kathy Dunabr was presented her Liberia ECOWAS Biometric passport as the first person to receive her passport at the center. Later 22 other Liberians received their passports amidst joy and jubilation.

The Liberian Government had already opened Biometric Passports Application Centers at the Liberian Embassies in Washinton, New York and the United Kingdom.