The Liberian Government has handed over 1.7 acres of land, valued at US$150,000 (one hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars) for the construction of the Guinean Embassy in Monrovia.

The land, according to Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan, is situated in Congo Town outside the capital. The land was made available following a request from the Guinean Government through its Embassy here several years back, Minister Ngafuan disclosed.

During the turning over ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry, Minister Ngafuan who presented the deed to the land on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to Guinean Ambassador His Excellency Abdoulaye Dore thanked the Guinean Government for the excellent relationship and the good cooperation between both countries.

"I now formally hand over the deed to the land to you, Mr. Ambassador, on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for the use of the Guinean Government in Liberia", the Foreign Minister stated as he presented the deed to Ambassador Dore.

The Liberian Foreign Minister revealed that the donation is just the beginning of the Liberian Government's plan to extend similar gestures to other foreign missions accredited here: "This is not an end but a beginning."

"It's not only the Guinean Government that has requested for land but four others and it is only strategic to begin with Guinea because this is symbolic to begin with the head of the Diplomatic Corps."

The Foreign Minister promised that other relevant ministries including Justice and Lands, Mines and Energy are already on track and that similar ceremonies of such will be held in the future. He thanked the Guinean Envoy for his patience and advice in working with the Liberian Government collaboratively in making Thursday's event a reality.

Receiving the deed to the land, the Guinean Ambassador on behalf of the Guinean Government thanked the Liberian Government and all those particularly involved with the land including the Foreign Minister and his team at the Ministry for having good faith in the Guinean Government. He then requested the Foreign Minister to extend his Government's appreciation to President Sirleaf for the good gesture.

While promising to use the land for the intended purpose, Ambassador Dore also used the occasion to disclose his plan to construct a village for the Guinean Government on the land which will help to strengthen the relations between both governments. He also promised to show the land to all Guinean nationals in the country.

Reflecting on the February 11, 2013 recent air plane crash in which high-profiled Guinean military personnel died, the Guinean Envoy added: "I request that you allow the Guinean Government to construct a monument [in honor of the fallen military personnel] so that Guineans will go and see. It would also be used to symbolize the friendship between Liberia and Guinea".

On the Guinean Envoy's memorial request, Minister Ngafuan said he hopes the Guinean President will use the pending Mano River Union (MRU) Summit to be held in Monrovia in April to visit the site, adding: "At that site, our pains unite; pains as the host and you as the guests".

The Liberian Government's gesture reflects similar one rendered it when the Guinean Government offered an ideal land for the Liberian Embassy in Conakry which is located in a prime location.