The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2014

Liberian Ambassador to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta Letters of Credence to Pope Francis, a communication proposing the inclusion of the Press Union of Liberia in the National Budget and therejection of a proposal immunity for sitting-government leaders by Liberian NGOs and other international groups are among stories highlighted in our Wednesday, May 21, 2014 selected dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Amb. Von Ballmoos Presents Letters of Credence

The INSIGHT newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that the Liberian Ambassador accredited to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta His Excellency Ambassador Rudolf von Ballmoos has presented his Letters of Credence to the Holy Father, Pope Francis at the Vatican City and the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, His Eminence Fra' Matthew Festing at the Magisterial Palace in Rome, Italy. In separate statements at the two ceremonies, Ambassador Rudolf von Ballmoos extended special thanks on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta for the enormous support provided Liberia over the years in the areas of education, health and humanitarian services in support of government's effort to eradicate poverty and consolidate the peace process. He made a specific request to the Holy See to support a regional education and awareness campaign with specific focus on religious tolerance, noting that "with the spread of different religious beliefs across the continent of Africa, it is prudent for people of different faith to coexist peacefully and tolerate one another". On the Global scene, Ambassador von Ballmoos noted that "Liberia will continue to support dialogue and non-violence in the resolution of internal conflicts. He said, Liberia is pursuing a long-term national development agenda, The Liberia Rising Vision 2030, which aims to propel Liberia into a middle-income country capable of meeting and sustaining its own development aspirations by the year 2030.  Towards, this end, we encourage Foreign Direct Investment in the vast resource based of the country, including the Agriculture and Mining sectors". In response, the Holy Father, Pope Francis said" the proliferation of weapons of every type leads in the opposite direction of peace that we all speak about. The arms trade has the effect of complicating and distancing us from a solution to conflicts, all the more so since it takes place to a great extent outside the boundaries of the law.

Related Captions:  Amb. Von Ballmoos Presents Letters of Credence (Daily Observer), Ballmoos Presents Letters of Credence (The News), Amb. Von Ballmoos Presents Letters of Credence (In Profile Daily), Amb. Von Ballmoos Presents Letters of Credence (Heritage)

PUL Earmarked For Budget

A Montserrado County Senator has proposed the allotment of US$300,000 in the already drafted 2014/2015 Fiscal Budget as budget support to the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).  The disclosure was made on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at the Capitol Building when Montserrado County Senator Geraldine Doe-Sheriff introduced a communication asking the Plenary of the Senate to approve the amount as direct developmental support for the parent body of journalists in Liberia. According to Senator Doe-Sheriff, over the years, the media in Liberia has helped in promoting development and the maintenance of Liberia’s fragile peace and, as such, should be given some national support at the level of the country’s national cake (the budget), writes the FOCUS newspaper.

Related Captions:  PUL Budgetary Support Gets Green Light-Senate Dedicates Committee to work out Modalities (INSIGHT), Senate Backs PUL (New Democrat), Bill Seeking Govt. Support to PUL Sails Well (The Analyst)

Liberian NGO, 18 Others Reject Immunity for Leaders

The Inquirernewspaper reports that a proposal to give immunity to sitting-government leaders before Africa’s regional court would be a major setback for justice for grave crimes, African Organizations from 19 countries have said. The Liberian NGO, Rights and Rice Foundation, as well as international groups with presence in Africa stated their position in a letter to African governments recently. The letter came as Justice Ministers and Attorney Generals of African Union member countries were scheduled to meet in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on May15-16, 2014, to consider a draft protocol to expand the authority of the African Court on Justice and Human Rights. The expansion seeks to include criminal jurisdiction over genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, according to a release from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and quoted by the Liberia News Agency.

Related Captions:  Liberian NGO, 18 Others Reject Immunity for Leaders (INSIGHT), African Leaders Seek Immunity From War Crimes… But Civil Society Groups Resist (The News), Immunity Proposal for Leaders Rejected (In Profile Daily), Liberian NGO, 18 Others Reject Immunity for Leaders (Heritage)

U.S. Dentists To Render Free Service In Cape Mount

A medical team from the United States-base Cross Culture Care (CCC) is in the country to perform free dental services on more than 1,000 Liberians at the St. Timothy Government Hospital in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County. This was disclosed Monday by the administrator of the hospital, Aaron Massaley, in an interview with the Liberia News Agency (LINA) Grand Cape Mounty County correspondent. Mr. Massaley said, because St. Timothy Government Hospital is a referral hospital, beneficiaries are expected to come from Bomi, Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount County, reports the Heritage Newspaper.

Related Captions:  U.S. Dentists to Render Free Service in Cape Mount (INSIGHT), U.S. Dentists to Render Free Service in Cape Mount (In Profile Daily)

Catholic Bishop Dalieh Interred In Harper

The body of the late Bishop Boniface Nyema Dalieh of the Cape Palmas Diocese of the Catholic Church of Liberia was on Friday, May 16, 2014 buried in Harper, Maryland County. Bishop Dalieh’s interment in the St. Theresa Cathedral followed fours of Eucharistic Mass conduct by Archbishop Lewis Zeigler of the Monrovia Diocese. Attending the funeral were delegations from the Ivory Coast and Nigeria, with others from the Monrovia and Gbarnga Dioceses, the Maryland County Legislative Caucus, and the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Liberia, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Hart, reports the Heritage Newspaper.

Related Captions:  Catholic Bishop Dalieh Interred in Harper (INSIGHT), Catholic Bishop Dalieh Interred in Harper (In Profile)

BIN Reshuffles Officers

The Bureau of Immigration and Nationalization (BIN) with immediate effect has begun a reshuffle process for its officers assigned at the Regional Command Posts in the country. According to BIN authorities, the reshuffling seeks to improve productivity within Regional Command Structure of the Bureau in terms of enforcing the Alien and Nationality Laws of Liberia. BIN says it believes that if this is done, it would discourage bad managerial practices which might have tied down officers to one assignment area for too long. Those affected by the order according to BIN include, the Regional Commanders and their principal deputies. They are Col. Albert Nimely, Regional Commander to Region III. He has been reassigned to Region I comprises of Grand Bassa and Margibi Counties, the Inquirer writes.

Related Captions:  BIN Embarks on Massive Reshuffle (INSIGHT), Major Reshuffle At BIN (New Democrat)

Pres. Sirleaf Meets Leaders of Liberian Community

As is her custom when she visits cities where there are Liberians, President Sirleaf met on Friday with a four-member delegation representing the Liberian Community of Metropolitan Boston. They were: Mr. Sesay Johnson, Executive Director; Mr. Samuel J’Blee Tiah, Chairman of the Board; Mrs. Mamunie Dennis, Vice President for Administration f FOLICAM; and Ms. Jassie-Fredcia Senwah, Secretary. According to a dispatch from Cambridge, President Sirleaf welcomed the delegation, asked what they were doing in America, and their future plans to return to Liberia and make their contributions. The delegation shared with her their organization’s many activities in support of the people of Liberia. these include: a scholarship fund that awards three scholarships annually; collecting books, and school and medical supplies for schools and hospitals; water projects; raising money to build a library in Paynesville that was dedicated in 2011; mobilizing women in the Diaspora to empower women in Liberia; and other ongoing efforts to build capacity for Liberia, the Focus newspaper writes.

Related Caption:  President Sirleaf Meets With Liberians in Boston (New Democrat)

OTHER STORIES

House Passes New Election Law, But…

According to the Heritage Newspaper, the Plenary of the House of Representatives on Thursday, May 20, 2014 endorsed a report from its joint committee on Elections, Inauguration and Judiciary for the passage of the New Election Law of Liberia. The House took the decision following a motion filed by Lofa County District #5 Representative Moses Y. Kollie shortly after over one hour of deliberation on the committee’s report during the 29^th day sitting of the Third Session. The Senators proposed an increment in the registration fees of the Presidency to US$25,000, Vice Presidency US$15,000, Senatorial US$5,000 and Representative US$3,500. But the House’s Plenary reduced the registration fees of candidates for the Presidency to US$2,500, Vice Presidency US$1,500, Senatorial US$750, Representative US$500, Paramount Chief US$50 and Clan Chief US$25.

Women To Get Fair Participation In Politics

 Women in Liberia have legally gotten grounds to contend with their male counterparts in national politics. Amid intense debate, the plenary of the House of Representatives Tuesday overwhelmingly endorsed a recommendation from its standing committee on elections, inauguration and judiciary on the proposed Electoral Reform Law of the Country. The INSIGHT newspaper writes that session 4.5 (1B) of the bill endorsed by Plenary require political parties, in the submission of their listing of officials and candidates, to endeavor to submit not less than 30 percent of each gender.

EPA Wins Int’l Award

The INSIGHT newspaper reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has won the most prestigious award in chemical management under the strategic approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) quick start program. The SAICM quick start program was launched in 2010 as an initiative by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United National Environmental Program (UNEP) for all countries in Africa. According to the daily, in partnership with the UNDP, a grant of US$250,000 was provided to Liberia for the implementation of its projects under the SAICM program.

BIN Revamped

The Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) and Deputy Attorney General, Cllr. Lemuel Reeves Sr., says BIN is undergoing revamping in and out of Monrovia. According to Cllr. Reeve, he wishes to see the BIN as an institution with a well-trained force. He said the Bureau has to be compatible with the standards of the government and noted that there is a need to have a more developed BIN and a better insurance policy for its employees. According to the Nationals Chronicle, the BIN Boss spoke to journalists at his Broad Street Office in Monrovia.