SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES GENEVA CONFERENCE TO MAKE LIBERIA 'A MODEL OF POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION'
Press Release
SG/SM/6256
AFR/12
SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES GENEVA CONFERENCE TO MAKE LIBERIA 'A MODEL OF POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION'
19970612 Following is the text of the message of Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan to the opening today in Geneva of the Special Conference to Support the Peace Process in Liberia:Welcome to the United Nations. I would like to begin by expressing my deep gratitude to you all for your dedication to the peace process in Liberia. You have already achieved much and the challenge now is to see the peace take genuine root.
We have all been reminded in these last few weeks of the fragility of peace and democracy in West Africa.
In Sierra Leone, a democratically elected Government was overthrown by a junta of soldiers without any support, either within or without their country. Their illegitimate, misguided grab for power must be reversed -- peacefully, if at all possible -- for Sierra Leone's sake, for Liberia's sake, for the sake of all of Africa.
I have just returned from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) summit in Harare and I can report that Africa is speaking with one voice in support of democracy and against the rule of the gun.
The promise of a third wave of democracy, human rights and development for Africa is present. It is for Africa and her friends in the international community to make it a reality.
Your efforts in Liberia are central to that process. Representing the key partners among the international community -- the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the International Contact Group, the United Nations System -- your Conference signals the determination to restore lasting security and the rule of law to Liberia.
Free, fair and credible elections are the next, crucial step in this process. An ambitious timetable has been set, culminating in elections on 19 July and making the task even more challenging.
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The electoral season raises the stakes for us all -- demanding more security, greater resources and a determination not to allow delays or disruptions to alter the basic course to representative government.
If we succeed -- as I am confident we will -- Liberia can become a model of post-conflict reconstruction involving national leaders, regional organizations and the United Nations. Its neighbours near and far will know that it can be done, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Let us redouble our efforts in this last stretch of the process to bring peace to Liberia. The hopes of the continent are with you.
I wish you all success in your deliberations.
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