Expressing optimism about national developments expecte in 2013, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has nevertheless advised Liberians not to expect "quick fix" solutions in the recovery program of the country.

In her New Year Message, the president said "I promise you that we will get there. However, remember that no country coming from where we came can get by with a quick fix; recovery and development is a gradual process; it is difficult work that takes time."

However, the President said in 2013, she will like to see progress in the areas of reform included in the Agenda for Transformation.

"We will push ahead with our reconciliation program by implementing the Roadmap, which aims at accounting for the past, managing the present, and planning for the future," she added.

She said during 2013, her government will place great emphasis on infrastructure, with power, ports and roads as three areas of concentration.

"These, in turn, will facilitate the education, health and agriculture sectors. We expect 2013 to be a good year of demonstrable progress, so that our people will see what this government is doing; what we've accomplished not just in Monrovia, but elsewhere in Liberia. We hope that 2014 will also be a year of true patriotism and reconciliation that will accentuate the positive things that unite us," President Sirleaf stressed.

Concerning the subregion, she expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation and the joint monitoring that Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia have at our common border.

She promised to continue working for peace and good relations with her neighbors, especially those of the Mano River Union.

"We can report that, with contribution from all Liberians and the support received from regional institutions and global partners, 2012 marked the ninth consecutive year of peace. Our country is still fragile, yet the record of continuity in peace and democracy is clearly present" she added.

President Sirleaf said 2012 saw the culmination of a long journey towards finding Liberians from all spheres of society and the Diaspora who converged in Gbarnga, Bong County, at a three-day Vision 2030 National Conference and discussed the country's future.

The vision, she said, provided the space for us to unite in a sense of common identity, ideals and purpose, and to take control of our destiny.