SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SHOW GENEROSITY AND GOODWILL IN TACKLING CHALLENGES OF POST-ELECTION LIBERIA

3 October 1997

Press Release
SG/SM/6349
AFR/19

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SHOW GENEROSITY AND GOODWILL IN TACKLING CHALLENGES OF POST-ELECTION LIBERIA

19971003 Addressing Ministerial Meeting of Special Conference on Liberia, Kofi Annan Welcomes Members of Democratically Elected Liberian Government

Following is the statement of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Special Conference on Liberia, at Headquarters today:

I am pleased to welcome you to this Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Special Conference on Liberia. This meeting has added significance, as it is the first to be held since the successful completion of the Liberian peace process. I wish, therefore, to extend a very special welcome to the distinguished representatives of the democratically elected Government of Liberia who are here today. I wish also to express my sincere gratitude to the governments, organizations and agencies represented here for the generous support you provided to the Liberian peace process.

Peace-building must now be the common focus of Liberia and its partners in the international community. Much was sacrificed in the effort to bring peace to Liberia -— in lives, in effort and in resources. The international community, for its part, must do all it can to ensure that the conditions for conflict do not return. Reconciliation, reconstruction and development are daunting challenges. But through the dynamism of its people, and with the support of its friends, I am confident that Africa's oldest republic will emerge from its recent ordeal stronger and more determined to succeed than ever before.

The primary responsibility for ensuring that conflict is not reignited in Liberia necessarily rests with the Liberian Government. I wish to take this opportunity today to commend President Taylor for the constructive and statesmanlike manner in which he has begun to lay the foundations for long- term peace, reconciliation and development in Liberia.

In particular, it is important to acknowledge and applaud the formation in Liberia of a broad-based and inclusive government, as well as the expressed commitment of the new President to promoting the protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law.

These actions and undertakings have sent a strong and positive signal to Liberia's friends throughout the international community, and laid the groundwork for international cooperation with Liberia.

Liberia faces a long and difficult road. Economic activity remains modest. Much of the population remains displaced. Most of the demobilized fighters are yet to be absorbed in reintegration programmes. And basic institutions and services are not yet fully operational. The impact on Liberia of the situation in Sierra Leone also remains a source of concern.

It is for these reasons that I proposed the establishment in Liberia of a United Nations Peace-building Support Office, following the completion of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia's (UNOMIL) mandate three days ago. President Taylor has welcomed this initiative, in particular, the commitment of the United Nations to assist Liberia in consolidating the peace that has now been achieved.

I intend to have the Office established and fully functional within the next few weeks. The Head of the Office will be the focal point for the Organization's post-conflict peace-building activities in Liberia, and will have overall responsibility for harmonizing the efforts of the United Nations system in the country. I am keen to ensure full consultation and cooperation with the Bretton Woods institutions, the African Development Bank, the European Commission, and other key bilateral and multilateral donor institutions. The presence of all of these partners here today is, therefore, especially significant.

We must also take heed of the many lessons learned from our experience in Liberia. First, we should recall the critical importance of the Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) efforts to harmonize the policies of its member States. Without this effort, the implementation of the revised Peace Agreement could not have been achieved.

Second, it is important to note the political, material and operational support provided for ECOWAS' efforts by the broader international community. Without this support, the peace process -— including disarmament, demobilization, and the holding of free and fair elections -- also could not have been successfully concluded.

Last but not least, the establishment of institutionalized mechanisms for consultation and discussion among the principal international partners was critical to carrying out an effective peace strategy on the ground.

These mechanisms included the Mediation Team in Monrovia, the Joint Coordination Mechanism for the Elections, and the Special Conference to Support the Peace Process.

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The initiative to establish the Special Conference on Liberia was a political one, originated by Minister Jan Pronk of the Netherlands. The Special Conference must now consider how best to ensure that the peace- building process in Liberia does not collapse as a result of a failure by the international community to provide adequate support at critical times.

In addition to the usual background paper provided by the Secretariat, the Government of Liberia has prepared for this meeting a paper entitled "An Agenda for Rebuilding Liberia", which the Secretariat has distributed to participants. Through this document, the Government has taken a very important first step forward in outlining its vision for a new Liberia.

That vision is inclusive. It responds to the needs of the Liberian people. And it echoes the high aspirations that the international community has for Liberia. I commend the Government of Liberia for this very positive contribution.

I hope that the international community will approach the task of peace- building in Liberia with an open mind. I call upon the members of the international community to demonstrate the same spirit of cooperation, generosity and goodwill in addressing the challenges of post-election Liberia as they did in helping to ensure the success of the peace process itself.

Thank you for your presence here today. I wish you success.

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