Photo: Glenna Gordon/UNHCR

An Ivorian refugee gets a lift on a motorbike taxi to Zwedru in southeastern Liberia.

A United Nations Panel has reported that parts of eastern Liberia are allegedly used as a recruitment platform and rear base (with several camps) for military training used by Ivorian rebels fighting to unseat the government of President Alassane Ouattara.

Addressing the UN Panal report at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICAT) weekly press briefing the Spokesman of the Government, Minister Lewis Brown said that the Government of Liberia after its dark past would not participate in any actions that would destabilize its neighbors.

"If Liberia or Liberians were to involve itself in such acts it would only be a boomerang effect that would cause conflicts to resurface in our country which is now enjoying peace and encouraging development," Minister Brown asserted.

The Information Minister, Lewis Brown also disclosed during the press briefing yesterday in the Charles Gbenyon Hall at MICAT that the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf yesterday arrived in Ivory Coast to hold one day consultation with her counterpart, Alassane Ouattara.

According to Minister Brown the Liberian Head of State would be meeting with the Ivorian leader to discuss the security situation involving the two bordering countries.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf left the country yesterday and returned the same day after holding consultations with President Quattara of Ivory Coast.

In related developments the Minister of Information in his disclosure confirmed that the Liberian Joint Security has arrested and is investigating Bobby Chopping Julu for suspicion of his participation in the Ivorian conflict.

Minister Brown continued that Julu was apprehended in Ganta City, Nimba County and is currently in detention within the Liberian border.

In conclusion the Minister said, "Not a single inch of Liberian soil will be used, nor visitor or citizen will be allowed to participate in bringing conflict in neighboring countries."

"Liberia's foreign policy will continue to be for development and not for destruction and backwardness, because we have come out of the dark and won't and can't allow this nation the oldest in Africa to suffer any further than she already has," he added.