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Liberia: Denmark Boots MDG Initiative - Agrees to Provide $22 Million to Support Program
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Liberia Government (Monrovia)
PRESS RELEASE
17 April 2008
Posted to the web 21 April 2008
Copenhagen
The Government of the Kingdom of Denmark says it will provide 100 million Danish kronens (22 million United States dollars) to support Liberia's Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The Danish Government has also announced that it will relieve Liberia of its bilateral debt of 160,000,000 Danish Kronens (3,305,785.1 United States dollars).
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen made the disclosure today at the Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, after concluding political talks with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. He said Denmark was pleased to announce a beginning of what he referred to as 'a strong Millennium Development Goals 3 partnership between both countries'. The Millennium Development Goals 3 (MDG3) is a global campaign which aims to achieve women empowerment by the year 2015. He revealed that his country's aim is to make Liberia what he called 'a model country in the fight to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 3'. The Prime Minister further called on other donors to support Liberia in this regard. He paid tribute to President Johnson-Sirleaf, saying she has done 'an extraordinary job in Liberia since the end of the country's lengthy civil conflict. He revealed that Denmark is proposing to initiate a global coalition which will stand ready to initiate the success of the MDG.
For her part, President Johnson-Sirleaf said she was extremely pleased that Denmark had chosen Liberia to be a MDG3 model country. She said Finance Minister Antoinette Sayeh is in Paris, France, to continue the debt cancellation campaign. The President emphasized that the Danish bilateral debt cancellation gesture would be of paramount help to Liberia as Minister Sayeh lobbies with other countries for more debt cancellations.
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Earlier, The Liberian leader served as keynote speaker at the Copenhagen Millennium Development Goal 3 Conference on women's empowerment. During her address, she stressed that gender based violence is a critical issue. She further praised the Danish Government for bringing the empowerment of women to the forefront. The Liberian leader said there is 'a tidal wave of revolutionary change to which she is a testament'. She informed the conference delegates that she has accepted Denmark's call for Liberia to be a MDG3 model country and added that the financial assistance of 22 million U.S dollars to be given to Liberia will be used for the intended purpose.
President Johnson-Sirleaf also paid a courtesy call and held private discussions with the Her Majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark.
The Liberian leader and entourage have concluded a very successful two-day state visit to the Kingdom of Denmark and will shortly leave for the United States of America for a private visit.
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