Liberia Government (Monrovia)
25 February 2008
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed confidence that concrete results will emerge from last Thursday's meeting with United States President George W. Bush during a one day visit to Liberia.
Briefing Executive Mansion reporters Monday during his regular press briefing, Presidential Spokesman, Cyrus Wleh Badio said President Sirleaf discussed with her American counterpart a number of issues, bordering on security, infrastructure and employment.
As a result of the discussions, Badio said President Bush has assured President Johnson Sirleaf that America will continue to provide funding for the United Nations Peace Keeping operations in Liberia, as well as training for the country's security sector reform.
The United States already provides nearly US $200 million annually in assessed contributions to fund the UN Mission in Liberia. The commitment by President Bush to provide more assistance for Liberia's security sector reform, Badio noted, is in addition to the US $139 million the United States has provided between Fiscal Year 2004-2007 toward government's reform program of Liberia's military.
Mr. Wleh-Badio said President Sirleaf also discuss with President Bush the country's energy sector, particularly the damaged Mt. Coffee Hydro and the need to have it up and running. The two leaders also discussed the poor state of the country's roads and efforts that must be taken to improve the road network.
The President, Badio also disclosed, discussed with the United States President the need to create more jobs for citizens through the private sector, to propel the Liberian economy and provide more employment opportunities.
President Bush, the Presidential spokesman said, has assured the Liberian leader that the United States will continue to play a leading role in helping the Liberian government tackle some of the pressing problems. "He has now gone back to reflect and consult with other government functionaries, what needs to be done to help the President and her government achieve these objectives. President Sirleaf has every confidence that President Bush will act appropriately and in due course on the issues discussed," Badio emphasized.
Meanwhile, Badio has rejected criticisms that President Bush's recent announcement of educational materials for Liberian schools did not go far enough. He said United States' support for Liberia, particularly the administration of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf can not be quantified in dollars and cents. "The mere sight of an American President visiting our country, 30-years after an American leader last set foot on this soil, goes well beyond dollars and cents." Responding to a reporter's question, the Presidential spokesman said President Bush's announcement of financial packages for Tanzania, Rwanda and Ghana did not come out of the clear blue skies. "These countries have adopted a number of policies and programs which have qualified them for such financial packages under the Millennium Challenge Account. Political and sound fiscal policies, transparency, good governance, the fight against corruption, are all indicators that must be met to qualify for accessing funds under the MCA."
Liberia, Mr. Badio said, has made some strides in meeting the indicators, but stressed that the lack of capacity and our resistance to change has hampered government's ability to achieving the benchmarks to enable Liberia access the MCA. The President, he said is not be deterred. Her government will continue to adopt those policies that will attract the much needed investment and capital to the country.
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