THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2016

Today’s edition of the summary highlights Foreign Minister Marjon V. Kamara’s appreciation of Liberians being trained in Chemical Biological Radiation Nuclear defense by the European Union.

DOMINANT STORY

Foreign Minister Kamara Hails EU For Training Liberians In CBRN Defense

Foreign Minister Marjon V. Kamara says the timely training of Liberians in Chemical Biological Radiation Nuclear defense (CBRN) is demonstrative and relevant as it coincides with the end of the UN Mission in Liberia. The training was conducted by the European Union (EU) Center of Excellence of the African Atlantic Façade Region. CBRN defense is protective measures taken in situations in which chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear warfare (including terrorism) hazards may be present, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Related Captions: FM Kamara Hails EU For Training Liberians In CBRN Defense (FOCUS), Foreign Minister Hails CBRN Training…Following EU Sponsored Event (In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES

Ellen Congratulates the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe

The Heritage newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe on the occasion commemorating the 41^st Independence Anniversary of that country on July 12, 2016. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in her message to His Excellency Mr. Manuel Pinto da Costa, President Sirleaf assured the Government of São Tomé and Principe of Liberia’s determination to continue to strengthen the cordial relations subsisting between the two countries for the mutual benefit of their respective peoples.

Liberia’s Position on South China Sea Disputes

Following with keen interest recent developments in the South China Sea, the Government of Liberia believes that all disputes should be resolved through peaceful negotiations between the parties concerned and in accordance with international law. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Ms. Marjon Kamara, in a letter to her counterpart, the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Mr. Wang Yi, said no party involved in this matter will gain from a dispute, as countries in the region are closely intertwined by trade and proximity, asserts the New DEMOCRAT newspaper.

Liberia Congratulates Argentina and South Sudan…on Independence Anniversaries

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent two separate congratulatory messages to the Government and people of the Republics of Argentina and South Sudan on the occasion marking their 200th and 5th Independence Anniversaries, respectively. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in the message to her Argentinean counterpart, His Excellency Mauricio Macri, President of the Republic of Argentina on the occasion marking that country’s 200^th Independence Anniversary of that country, the Liberian leader, wished that the warm relations subsisting between the two countries and people will continue to flourish as they work together for the attainment of global peace, security, economic and social development. In another congratulatory message to the Government and people of the Republic of South Sudan, President Sirleaf hoped that the bond of friendship so happily subsisting between Liberia and South Sudan will continue to grow stronger in the years to come and further wished for the two countries to work closely for the promotion of peace, security and reconciliation among the people of Africa, reports the In Profile Daily.

Health Ministry Launches Campaign To End ‘Snail Fever’

The FOCUS newspaper reports that the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Monday launched the Mass Drug Administration Praziquantel treatment to prevent schistosomiasis or snail fever in children between the ages of 5 to14 years in Gbarnga, Bong County. Speaking at the launch, the Administrator of the Bong County Health Team, Fatorma Jusu, said the Health Ministry will work with parents to ensure successful conduct of the campaign.

MOE Retires 49 Teachers In Nimba

The Ministry of Education has officially retired 49 teachers from the local education office in Ganta, Nimba County for long services and age, Bain-Garr District Education Officer (DEO) Lydon Martor has disclosed. The DEO told the In Profile Daily that the retirement is a set back to the school system in the county and call on the MOE to employ additional teachers to fill the gap.

Information Minister: Gov’t Committed To Implementing FOI Act

According to the Heritage newspaper, Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe has said the Government of Liberia is committed to the full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act to further enhance the country’s fledgling democracy. Minister Nagbe noted that Freedom of Information (FOI) is not in isolation of good governance and promised that the government will expand the frontier of the country’s media landscape. According to a release issued by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Minister Nagbe made the remarks Monday when he received three separate reports on the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in Liberia.

Rotary Club helps to Build US$26K Triage in Bomi

The Rotary Club of Monrovia has embarked on the construction of a US$26,000 triage and a maternity ward at the Mecca Clinic in Suehn, Mecca District, Bomi County. Rotary Club Monrovia president Oswald Tweh said the Lotus Foundation in the United States provided the funds for the project intended to help meet the medical needs of the people and to provide maternity care for pregnant women. Tweh made the disclosure recently in Bomi County when he met with the county authority, chiefs and elders in the district, stating that the project will be completed in September this year, the New DEMOCRAT newspaper writes.

Africa’s Richest Man Plans Refinery

A back-page story of the New DEMOCRAT news daily reads that a plan by Africa’s richest man to transform one of the continent’s largest oil industries is talking shape on a swampy piece of land outside Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos. Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote is constructing a refinery that has the capacity to turn 650,000 barrels of oil into gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel enough to potentially satisfy all the country’s daily needs.

FDA/CFWG Seek New Direction for Community Forest

Stakeholders of the Forestry Development Authority and Community Forest Working Group (CFWG) have begun seeking ways and processes through which they can infuse dynamism and strengthen bond into community forest management. Community forest management is part of an overall process that defines the roles of community dwellers in how their forests are managed and the benefits they stand to get with the help of different agencies, the FrontPage Africa newspaper reports.

FDA Honors USAID, Others for Continued Support

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), SCNL, FIFES, FAO, SDI, and REDD+ were institutions honored by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) for their continued support over the years. Although a government entity, the FDA is also relying on external support from partners to execute the many responsibilities before it, to ensure proper management of Liberia’s forest which continues to be threatened by different events. The honors were bestowed on the concerned entities last weekend in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County during a three-day Retreat organized by the FDA in partnership with CFWG.