The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Government and the People of Liberia have received over Sixty Messages of Congratulations from world leaders and sovereign governments, as the Liberia graciously celebrated its 163rd National Independence Anniversary.

Speaking to journalists in Sanniquellie, Nimba County following the official ceremonies marking the 163rd Independence Day celebrations, Assistant Foreign Minister for Public Affairs, Mr. Josephus Moses Gray said Congratulatory Messages and Facilitations came from Presidents, Heads of State, Kings, Queens, Governor-Generals and heads of  global and regional organizations around the world.

Amongst sovereign governments that extended Greetings and Facilitations to President Johnson Sirleaf, the Government and People of Liberia included the United States, Great Britain, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, the People’s Republic of China, India, Brazil, Libya, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Turkey, Morocco and Ghana, amongst others.

Assistant Minister Gray further told journalists that in their respective Congratulatory Messages to President Johnson Sirleaf, the world leaders expressed their convictions and sincere best wishes to the Government and People of Liberia, and praised President Johnson Sirleaf’s good leadership style and the level of progress being made in the country since her Presidency.

The Assistant Foreign Minister also added that Liberia has regained her lost image and place among the comity of nations due to the vigorous foreign policy posture being pursued by President Johnson Sirleaf’s Administration, which has resulted into the waiver of Liberia’s debts by some powerful nations and financial institutions.

He said since the ascension of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to the leadership of Africa’s first Republic in 2006, Liberia’s stature and standing in the comity of nations have immensely improved, adding that this new status has been made possible due primarily to a radical change in the country’s foreign policy orientation adopted by the first democratically Female President on the African Continent.

The pillars of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s new foreign policy orientation consist of a firm recommitment to the principles and ideals of the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and the Mano River Union.

Assistant Minister Gray noted that  Liberia reaffirmed her absolute adherence to the rules of international law, the principles of peaceful coexistence, non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, respect for the sovereign and equality of all States.

He further that the central objective of President Johnson Sirleaf foreign policy orientation is to secure the national interests through the forging and maintenance of closer and stronger ties of friendship and economic partnership with traditional allies and friends, as well as the opening of new avenues of engagement and mutual solidarity with other States.

He told journalists that the guiding principles of Liberia’s foreign policy has been the maintenance of national security and the preservation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, the promotion of peace and harmony based on the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States, and the unity of purpose in the international community.

Meanwhile, appropriate programs befitting the 163rd Independence Anniversary celebration also took place at Liberia’s Diplomatic Missions abroad.