German President, Professor Dr. Horst Koehler, with Wife, Ends Visit
By Marian Samu

President Kabbah expressed appreciation that President Koehler chose to visit Sierra Leone on the first leg of his African tour, describing the visit as historic, which will not be forgotten for a very long time to come. He underscored the significant role Germany has played in Sierra Leone in the areas of Trade and Economic Cooperation, Education and Training and Infrastructure development, dating as for back as the 1970s. He lauded Germany's contribution to Sierra Leone's recovery and development efforts from the ashes of war, and their support in the promotion of peace and security, conflict resolution and prevention, and the promotion of good governance and the rule of law.

He paid special tribute to Ambassador Karl Prinz, whom he said, exemplified the finest German values during his tenure of office as Ambassador in Sierra Leone, but who had to leave the country during the military regime that preceded his ascent to power in 1996, as the Ambassador could not accept the flagrant abuse of democratic principles.

President Kabbah also expressed gratitude for the successful projects implemented in Sierra Leone by the German Technical Cooperation International Services, (GTZ), particularly in the construction of roads and bridges in the country, citing the construction of the Congo Cross Bridge, the Bo-Kenema highway the Masingbi-Kono, Makeni-Matotoka and the Freetown-Waterloo highways.

The President, however, appealed to the German Government to do every thing in their power to sensitize the European Union and its member-countries about the dire need to repair dilapidated and ruined roads as it is one of the areas which was targeted and badly devastated by the rebel war, including the rehabilitation of the Lunsar-Makeni-Kabala road and the Kenema-Koindu road in the Eastern Province, noting the great economic importance of the Kenema-Koindu road as it passes through the main agriculturally-productive areas and leads to the international market centre of Koindu, where businesspeople from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea have since 1932 being converging and carrying out commercial transactions. President Kabbah also highlighted the Kenema-Koindu road as the main supply artery for border security forces along the Sierra Leone-Liberia and Sierra Leone-Guinea borders.

Among other things, President Kabbah reiterated the warm hospitality he received during his visit to Germany in 2002, where he held fruitful discussions with former German President Rau, officials of the German government, development partners, the public and private sector. He expressed satisfaction over the reopening of the German Embassy in Freetown, but appealed for the appointment of a resident Ambassador to Sierra Leone and to start consular services. He also expressed appreciation for assistance to the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, finacial support to UNAMSIL and the country's food security programme.

Highlighting some of the progress made so far since the end of the war and the establishment of democracy, President Kabbah noted the establishment of government authority throughout the country and the successful conduct of Presidential and Parliamentay elections in 2002 and Local Government elections in 2004. He also informed the visiting President of institutional reforms like the devolution of authority to local councils, the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the establishment of the Law Reform Commission to review and update the laws so that they can be consistent with modern democratic practices, including measures to enhance the rule of law and empowerment of the Judiciary.

President Kabbah was also pleased to report steady increase in the export of the country's diamonds from a meagre sum of US$10 million in 2000 to US$118 million by November, 2004. This, he said, has enabled government to start earning substantial revenue from such exports. Other issues highlighted by President Kabbah included Sierra Leone's effective participation in the activities of the Ecomic Community of West African States, and the revitalization of the Mano River Union which comprises the immediate neighbouring countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

President Kabbah stated that his government views the visit to Sierra Leone as an important milestone in the relations between the two countries and peoples, and that it will enhance cooperation and understanding in many areas of mutual interest. The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Professor Dr. Horst Koehler, expressed appreciation for the warm reception he and his delegation received from their Sierra Leonean hosts. President Koehler also expressed delight that he is the first German President to have visited Sierra Leone, adding that Sierra Leone is also the first country he has visited on his first visit outside Europe since he became president.

President Koehler stated that his visit to the African continent is no coincidence, as during his work at the IMF as Director, he became fascinated with the beauty of the African continent, as well as the friendly people and the immense problems and challenges facing the continent. He lamented over the untold suffering and horror the war brought to countless people in Sierra Leone, noting that many wounds are yet to be healed.

The German President stated that the devastating images of war remain unforgotten in Europe and Germany in particular, almost sixty years after the second world war. Inspite of this, he observed that Sierra Leone has shown that it has the strength and courage to build a new and bright future. The traumas endured, President Koehler noted, have not been suppressed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court. Sierra Leone, he said, is striving to come to grips with this past, and to make a new beginning.

President Koehler also commended the exemplary way in which the 2002 Presidential elections were held, including the recent local government elections, describing them as free, fair and peaceful. He said these elections sent a clear message to the international community and they in Germany also clearly understood that Sierra Leone is determined for its citizens to participate fully in the nation's political life.

He particularly made reference to President Kabbah's speech in Parliament after the elections, which he noted, emphasized Civil Society's involvement in shaping the country's future. President Koehler observed that President Kabbah showed his commitment to protecting human rights, combating corruption and ensuring good governance.

The German President also lauded President Kabbah and the people of Sierra Leone for demonstrating that they have a clear idea of how to go about to build a brighter future for the country. He assured President Kabbah of their belief in his commitment and their readiness to support him and the people of Sierra Leone in their reconstruction efforts. Although Sierra Leone has achieved much, President Koehler noted, there is still much to be done. And for this reason, his delegation comprises business executives, private and public members, young people, writers etc., who all may have a contribution to make to the development of this country. He also made mention of efforts being made by young people in Germany in finding ways of assisting the young people of Sierra Leone. He said a Vocational School in Berlin was busy organizing a workshop to enable them provide training for young people in Sierra Leone. He also talked about the "Mothers for Mothers" organization and the "Together for Africa" who are all assiduously working to provide help for people in Sierra Leone.

At a reception hosted by the German President and Mrs. Eva Luise Koehler on Tuesday night, December 7th, to which President Kabbah was guest of honour, President Horst Koehler expressed that since his arrival in Sierra Leone, he had developed new impressions about President Kabbah and the people of Sierra Leone, particularly the way they have succeeded in establishing peace and the rule of law through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court. The evening, he said, is dedicated to the friendship between Sierra Leone and Germany, and in particular to the peoples, noting that it is important to strengthen the bilateral relations and ties.

President Koehler used the occasion to award Dr Christian Bell, a German-trained Sierra Leonean Medical Doctor, with the honour of the "Cross of Marriage", for his hard work in the medical field. President Koehler informed the gathering that the business delegation has also donated an ultra-sound machine to Dr Bell to assist him in his work.

The children of Pendembu Roman Catholic Girls' School were also singled out to receive a donation of thirty-five thousand Euros, for rebuilding of their school, a donation that came from young people in Germany, who collected the money by singing carols.

President Prof. Dr. Horst Koehler and his delegation left Sierra Leone on Thursday 9th December 2004. Before his departure, President Koehler and President Kabbah exchanged fairwell courtesies at the Bintumani Hotel and at the UNAMSIL Helipad where President Kabbah said 'aufwiedersehen' to his departing special guest.

President Koehler and his delegation were accompanied to the Lungi International airport by Vice President, Honourable Solomon Berewa, from where he flew to the Republic of Benin for the second leg of his four-nation African tour.

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