Liberia News: ‘No Effect on Ongoing Diplomatic Engagements’

By: Moses M. Tokpah

Liberia-The Deputy Minister for International Corporations and Economic Integration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ibraham Nyei says the ‘refusal’ of former President George M. Weah to honor government’s request to produce a one-minute video in support of the country’s quest to get a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council does not affect the government’s ongoing diplomatic engagements.

Deputy Minister Nyei told reporters at MICAT’s regular press briefing on Tuesday that the winning of the Security Council seat is a diplomatic engagement and not a public campaign or mass rally where speeches are delivered to appeal to the emotions of people. He said President Boakai’s approach of inviting other political leaders to participate in the campaign is just part of his normal approach of inclusive governance.

Nyei noted that the government is very inclusive in that it has over 20 political parties serving in the government and as such, the President wants for other political parties to participate in major policy decisions. He intoned that it was in this spirit that the President invited other political leaders with some of them turning out while others in their normal exercise of their constitutional rights decided not to participate.

According to him, that doesn’t affect the nature of the diplomatic engagements that the government is participating in indicating that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is engaging across the world meeting other foreign ministers, heads of states while the President is doing the same.

He continued that Liberia’s goal for the U.N Security Council seat is to contribute to the significant dialogue on international peace and security, to enhance the country’s visibility and to demonstrate to the world that the country is peaceful, progressive and it is a competent country that is prepared to contribute to international peace and security.

Dr. Nyei said the Foreign Minister announced that under the leadership of President Boakai, Liberia will be rebranded in the international space and the country is going to be repositioned. He noted that this is one of their objectives of rebranding and repositioning the country. He mentioned that Liberia has positions in the African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that are not occupied while there are so many positions in the United Nations that Liberians are qualified for.

The Deputy Foreign Minister asserted that this repositioning process is also targeting Liberians that are qualified and competent enough to occupy seats in those international organizations.

He furthered that this is not also limited to the United Nations Security Council as the government has a broad strategy for Liberia to take leadership in the UN Economic and Social Council, the Human Rights Council, and various International Councils on environment and sustainable development thereby assuring Liberians that government is going to make the effort.

He then said other countries will be competing, but the government’s commitment is to ensure that Liberian agency political leadership is broadcast, projected and exercised globally.