When President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf took the challenge to address President Barack Obama's pre-UN General Assembly Working Luncheon in New York last month, little did she know that she was making a mark upon the world stage. Now, she knows: she got a "Thank You" note from the leader of the Free World's most powerful nation, the United States of America - of course with a present, The Analyst reports.

US President Barack Obama - impressed with President Sirleaf's recent articulation of Liberia's roadmap for youth development and empowerment and regional peace initiatives - has promised his administration's reenergized cooperation in Liberia 's reconstruction efforts and regional security.

Roadmap and US Africa Policy

"I appreciate your focus on the importance of education and skills-based training, particularly in post-conflict situations," President Obama said in a communication to President Sirleaf.

It may be recalled that few hours before the US President delivered his debut speech to the United Nations General Assembly on new global challenges, he hosted a working luncheon for select heads of state and leaders of sub-Saharan African countries.

President Sirleaf addressed the opening of that luncheon and proceeded to head a working session on the problems of youth development and empowerment in the developing world.

The President's discourse, which resonated with Rwandan President Paul Kigali and presidents of other African nations, focused mainly on countries coming fresh out of violent conflicts in which young people were drugged and used as foot soldiers and hound dogs.

She told the US leader and her colleagues at the time that the way forward for the young people were both victims and perpetrators of violence was to ensure that they obtained quality education to enable them cater for the needs of their families and society. While it was tempting to prosecute these young people for their roles in Africa 's war of poverty and power and in inner-city crimes, it was only by making available learning faculties and creating the enabling environment for learning that cycle of violence will be broken.

She said her administration was placing emphases on and succeeding in dealing with the problems associated with women ex-combatants through skills training and micro-loan empowerment, the addressing of gender-based violence against women and girls, and the construction of more health facilities to cater to the needs of mothers, children, and the elderly.

President Obama agreed, re-echoing in his communication to the Liberian leader the significance of the impact of Liberia 's civil conflict on the youth population and acknowledging that Liberia has made great progress in creating the foundation for a better future not only for Liberia 's youth but for the entire population.

Mr. Obama, considered the most popular US President internationally since John F. Kennedy, did not say what particular government program caught his attention as "great progress", but he said Liberia stands to benefit by what the Sirleaf Administration was doing in Liberia .

During his famous two-day Accra stopover this year, the US President told African leaders that continued US favorable look upon the continent would be based on a number foundations upheld by each collaborating nation. The foundations, he noted, were the systemic fight against corruption, smooth governance transitions through free, fair, and transparent democratic elections based on universal franchise, enabling partnership engagements that favor investment over aid, and sustained service delivery to the people.

Shortly after the US leader outlined his administration's bases for working with African leaders, President told the nation that she was in accord with President Obama and that Liberia was well ahead the pack in those regards. But are contentions amongst observers and critics of the administration that will and action are not often complementary and that President Sirleaf's willingness to fight corruption and improve service delivery to Liberia's postwar dispossessed population was not being matched by the actions taken thus far.

Corruption, they say, remains impervious to methods applied by the administration so far to reduce it. "This is because the President is yet to muster the political courage to prosecute those embroiled in the acts, who are often members of her kitchen cabinet, her very close friends, or relatives of her very close friends," said one critic recently.

Regional Peace Initiative and Aid

An Executive Mansion release says, the United States President also expressed appreciation to President Johnson Sirleaf for her efforts in Guinea. The US, Mr. Obama indicated, shares the Liberian leader's concerns about violence and political instability spreading to other parts of Africa.

"We will continue to work with you and other leaders in the region to support democratic change in Guinea," President Obama assured the Liberian President in his letter.

Meanwhile, President Obama has assured the Liberian leader that the United States is committed to working with Liberia and other global partners to reenergize the world's economy. In the G-20, the US President informed President Johnson Sirleaf, leaders of the world's largest economies have agreed to reform and increase resources for international financial institutions and development banks.

"We recognize the increased role in the world economy of emerging markets and developing economies and want to ensure we work together to expand global prosperity. I look forward to continuing to work with you to address issues of importance to Liberia and also for all of Africa," President Obama concluded in his letter to President Johnson Sirleaf.