Liberia Government (Monrovia)
27 November 2008
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has paid tribute to former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari for his efforts towards aiding Liberia's development. Mr. Ahtisaari, the winner of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize, is in Liberia on a two-day visit to lend support to strengthening governance in the country.
Briefing Mr. Ahtisaari on the government's development agenda and the poverty reduction strategy, the President said Liberians fully participated in the consultative process which led to the formulation of the document, now referred to as "LIFT LIBERIA." The President stressed that economic revitalization is well underway, noting that government's vision remains clear.
Also addressing the forum, President Ahtisaari said he is pleased that Liberia is placing emphasis on rebuilding its educational sector. The former Finnish leader challenged President Johnson Sirleaf to continue the reform program, which he believes, will achieve positive results for the Liberian people. Mr. Ahtisaari further expressed the hope that the people of Liberia will continue to support the President in her efforts to bring change to the country.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Johnson Sirleaf and Mr. Ahtisaari were speaking Thursday during the first day of an interactive seminar 'Governance out of a box,' held at the Foreign Ministry. The seminar also brought together development partners, members of the diplomatic corps and civil society organizations.
President Ahtisaari later held talks with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at her Foreign Ministry Office. The two leaders discussed issues relating to the country's development agenda and efforts to speed up the process. During the former Finnish President's two-day visit to the country, he will also form part of an 'open dialogue' session on the restoration and consolidation of state authority in Liberia. The forum, organized by the Civil Affairs section of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), takes place Friday in Monrovia.
The two-day seminar is being co-convened by the Ministry of Health, the Executive Director of Crisis Management Initiative and the Former President of Finland, Mr. Martti Ahtisaari. The seminar is exploring the "Governance out of a Box" concept in general, and more specifically, to discuss a mobile birth and death registration tool, which could be developed in Liberia.
The seminar is a result of a year-long discussion between the Government of Liberia and the Crisis Management Initiative, a non-profit organization, which seeks to develop and test more effective approaches and tools for mediation and state-building.
The Former Finnish leader and delegation depart Monrovia Friday.
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