The United States Ambassador to Liberia, Her Excellency Ms. Christine Elder, has heaped praises on Foreign Minister, Ms. Marjon V. Kamara, and senior staff for the splendid work they’re doing at the Ministry.

“We have the chance today, to see all of these Foreign Ministry staff here. We diplomats only get to work and know the office responsible for our region; but Foreign Minister Kamara, along with her colleagues, are here today so we have the time to know and thank them, too, for their hard work,” Ambassador Elder said.  

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia made the assertion recently when she and other members of the diplomatic corps tendered a “holiday tea” event in honor of Minister Kamara and senior staff at her United States Embassy  residence in Mamba Point.

Addressing the Foreign Minister, her deputy and assistant ministers and some desk officers who made it to the occasion, Ambassador Elder thanked Madam Kamara for “bringing life to the Foreign Ministry since taking over as Minister”.

The US diplomat, who was joined by the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, Guinean Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Mr. El Hadj Abdoulaye Doré, in co-hosting the event, told the officials, especially Foreign Minister Kamara, that the Ministry has now become very responsive to requests from foreign missions accredited near Monrovia, under her watch. 

The Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, H.E. Mr. El Hadj Abdoulaye Doré, joined the U.S. Ambassador to thank Foreign Minister Kamara and staff for the hard work.

“From our side as diplomats, we like to send you a congratulatory message, Madam Minister and your colleagues. We want to appreciate especially the Protocol Section, which at most times is pushed to make some calls when they don’t want to because of inconveniences but are forced to do so.

“We also very much appreciate Madam Minister. With her at the top, things have gone well with all the diplomats,” Ambassador Doré emphasized amidst applauds from the audience, which included accredited Ambassadors and representatives of embassies near Monrovia.

Also making remarks, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative to Liberia, H.E. Mr. Farid Zarif, was full of praise and extended his “profound gratitude” to Foreign Minister Kamara and her team. 

Mr. Zarif, who is the head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), used the occasion to thank Liberians for the very responsible manner in which they have conducted themselves throughout the electioneering period.

“This is the very first time that a country in West Africa and the larger world is going through an election period and there have been no violence, death or any casualty let alone a single demonstration. You are teaching the world a lesson,” Ambassador Zarif indicated. 

Responding, Foreign Minister Kamara thanked the U.S. Ambassador for hosting the gathering at her official residence within the U.S. Embassy. 

“We want to thank you all for this kind and general gesture, which only serves to inspire us more and more to work for our country,” she stated.

The nation’s chief diplomat recalled that at her introductory reception, she had told them to kindly give some chance to the Foreign Ministry in order to allow it to adopt a more responsive approach.

“When I took over as Minister, one of the many complains I received was that the Ministry was very unresponsive to communications that came in. But base on this recognition, it tells us that we have been making some efforts,” she further stated as she, too, thanked them for working along with her and her colleagues.

Foreign Minister Kamara reminded the diplomats, that as Liberia heads to runoff election, not everyone within the Foreign Ministry will be on the winning side; adding: “That means, not all of us will be on the team that wins; but we all hope that those of us, who will still be on the team, will continue to work with you all.”