TheForeign Minister of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has said that Members of the Diplomatic Corps will have special pages when the post-Ebola history of Liberia is written.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian Foreign Minister said that all Members of the Diplomatic Corps, especially those who stood with Liberia during one of its darkest hours, including the three out-going Ambassadors of Sweden, Egypt and Cuba.

He stated that these three Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries, H.E. Mrs. Sofia Strand of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Sameh Lofti of Egypt and H.E. Mr. Jorge Fernando Lefebre Nicolas of Cuba, have distinguished themselves as some of Liberia’s truest friends, who helped to fight and defeat Ebola in Liberia; adding: “They have special pages in our history.”

Foreign Minister Ngafuan spoke Thursday, August 20th, when he delivered a Special Statement at a farewell luncheon he hosted in honor of the three out-going Ambassadors, whose tenures, ranging between two to three years, ended.

He told Members of the Diplomatic Corps present in the C. Cecil Dennis, Jr. Hall of the Foreign Ministry, “All of you didn’t close your Embassies to Liberia. You were here helping to fight with us. The President, Government and People of the Republic of Liberia, will have me say thanks to the entire Diplomatic Service and especially to each of you Ambassador, who did specific things, which helped us in our war against Ebola.”

Touching on some of the things the three distinguished personalities did during their tour of duties, the Foreign Minister said: “For Ambassador Nicholas, he had to apply himself in an extraordinary way so that we could get more than 50 Cuban doctors here and we know what he did. They took the risks with us and went on the battlefront.”

On Ambassador Lofti, Min. Ngafuan stated: “He was a pusher, who made things happened during the war against Ebola and also his country provided scholarship programs for Liberians to go and study in Egypt.”

According to the Foreign Minister, the deadly Ebola virus, which stalled the progresses of many development initiatives in Liberia, also halted a Joint Commission Meeting between Egypt and Liberia.

He stated that under Ambassador Strand, Sweden-Liberia relationship has gone to a higher level.

“The Liberian development landscape is being impacted in many ways by your country. Sweden deployed some of its solders here to help with peacekeeping in UNMIL. Sweden has assisted our reconciliation process, our public financial management system, our decentralization program, etc. So the President will have me convey to all of you Ambassadors her personal thanks and gratitude for being good friends to Liberia and what you have done to elevate the relationship,” the Foreign Minister said.

Minister Ngafuan, who is also the Dean of the Cabinet, told the three Ambassadors that as they leave, he was asking them to also serve as Liberia’s ambassadors in their respective nations or other places they will find themselves.

“We wish you well in your new endeavors; where so ever you are going to be, we ask that you remember this country and we are giving you an open door to Liberia,” the Minister said as he wished them Godspeed.

Making remarks, Ambassador Strand said Liberia has a special place in her heart as it is the place where she began her first diplomatic mission and had many experiences.

“There have been several firsts for me here in Liberia. First time Ambassador and to be the first Swedish Ambassador to Liberia since 1989, first time living on the African continent and first time living in a post-conflict country.”

Mrs. Strand further stated that these experiences have challenged and made her grow; adding: “I will keep Liberia in my heart for a long time and I will follow with great interest the important years that lie ahead of this country.”

Her diplomatic tour of duty in Liberia lasted for two years.

For his part, Ambassador Lofti said throughout his three-year stay in Liberia, he always felt like he was in his country as Liberians treated him warmly. The Egyptian Ambassador stated that in those three years, there were many challenges, but that he and his hosts faced them head-on.

He added: “I am sure Liberia will reach a place it wishes and deserves among the comity of nations.”

As for Ambassador Nicolas, who is based in Accra, said he is glad to have participated in with Liberia in some of its successes; adding: “The Ebola time was a very difficult time for everybody.”

He stated that it was a time that the Cuban doctors had to come to Liberia and got to know Liberians during those difficult times.

He disclosed that his country has now officially opened its Embassy here in Monrovia and that his successor will be stationed in Monrovia. His tour of duty lasted for three years.