The NEWS (Monrovia)
Jimmey C. Fahngon
30 December 2008
Monrovia — Presidential Press Secretary, Cyrus Wleh Badio says the situation in neighboring Guinea in which the military seized state power following the death of President Lansana Conte is troubling.
He said Liberia being a neighbor to Guinea is concerned about the security implication the situation in that country poses.
However, he said ECOWAS has a team in Guinea holding consultations with the junta leadership to ensure that the sub-region remains peaceful and stable.
Badio spoke Monday at his regular press briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia.
Asked about the position of the Mano River Union (MRU) which President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf chairs, Badio said whatever position ECOWAS takes would also be the position of the MRU.
He said MRU being a subsidiary of ECOWAS would not do anything contrary to its parent body emphasizing "MRU would go along with ECOWAS."
Badio disclosed that Senegalese President has been in consultation with his Liberian counterpart concerning his decision to recognize the leadership of the junta in Guinea.
But he said the Liberian Leader's position and that of the MRU be in line with ECOWAS' position.
Commenting on the President's recent visit to Guinea, the Presidential Press Secretary said Johnson-Sirleaf was in that country to attend the funeral of her fallen colleague.
He clarified that the President did not meet with the leadership of the military junta.
In another development, Badio said fire experts from the United Nations in collaboration with their Liberian colleagues are currently investigating circumstances surrounding the fire incident at Dr. Laurence Bropleh's residence.
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As a Chair of the Mano River Union and certainly as a well respected leader in the region, it is okay for President Sirleaf to listen to whatever the military junta in Guinea has to say. However, Liberia should NOT endorse the junta. For once, let the people of Guinea freely choose their leaders in a fair, internationally organized election. History strongly warns us that coup makers HAVE NEVER KEPT THEIR PROMISE...and this junta will not be any different. Endorsing the actions of the junta that clearly violate Guinea's constitution will one day backfire on the progress of our own… [Read Full Text]