JOINT
COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF A ONE-DAY WORKING VISIT
TO THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE BY HIS EXCELLENCY
GYUDE BRYANT, CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL
GOVERNMENT AND HEAD OF STATE OF THE REPUBLIC
OF LIBERIA ON THURSDAY 6TH NOVEMBER, 2003.
His
Excellency Gyude Bryant, Chairman of the National
Transitional Government and Head of State of
the Republic of Liberia paid a one-day Working
visit to the Republic of Sierra Leone on Thursday
6th November 2003.
His
Excellency the President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan
Kabbah, Government Ministers and other dignitaries
accorded Chairman Bryant a warm welcome at the
Hastings Airfield on his arrival.
Chairman
Bryant was accompanied by Hon. Thomas N. Yaya,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Hon. Kabineh
Ja'neh, Minister of Justice.
During
the visit both Heads of State exchanged views
on matters of bilateral interest covering essentially
political, social and security matters and committed
themselves to work more closely for the promotion
of greater economic and social well-being of
their peoples.
Both
Heads of State expressed their commitment to
an early revival and consolidation of the Mano
River Union and to use it to achieve sustainable
peace, security and stability in the three Member
States.
President
Kabbah congratulated Chairman Bryant on his
assumption of Office as Head of State of the
Republic of Liberia and expressed the hope that
Liberia would achieve lasting peace during his
tenure of office.
Chairman
Bryant expressed profound gratitude and appreciation
on behalf of all Liberians, to the sister Republic
of Sierra Leone, all other ECOWAS Members States,
the European Union and the United States of
America for their support in ensuring the peaceful
and successful transfer of power in Liberia
and also their mediating role which immensely
contributed to the signing of the historic peace
agreement between the Government of Liberia
and other parties in Accra, Ghana on 18th August,
2003.
He
expressed appreciation to ECOWAS, the United
Nations, the African Union, the European Union
and the International Community in general for
their invaluable contribution towards the peace
process. He expressed on behalf of the Liberian
people profound apologies for all the atrocities
that were committed against the people of Sierra
Leone.
Chairman
Bryant expressed his Government's intention
to see through the successful implementation
of the said Agreement.
Chairman
Bryant appealed to President Kabbah, the African
Union, the Economic Community of West African
Sates (ECOWAS), the European Union and the entire
International Community to render all possible
assistance to Liberia in order to achieve a
successful implementation of the Peace Agreement.
In
recognition of the role of the Nigerian-led
ECOMIL peacekeeping operations in Liberia, both
Heads of State urged all countries, which pledged
troops, financial assistance and logistics to
UNMIL to fulfil their promise so as to accelerate
and consolidate the peace process.
Chairman
Bryant expressed deep and sincere appreciation
to President Kabbah, the Government and people
of Sierra Leone for the warm and fraternal hospitality
accorded him and his delegation during their
visit to Sierra Leone.
Done
At State House, Freetown, Republic Of Sierra
Leone On 6th November, 2003.
Signed
by Hon. Momodu Koroma, Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation, for and on behalf
of the Government of the Republic of Sierra
Leone
Signed
by Hon. Thomas N. Yayah, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, for and on behalf of the Government
of the Republic of Liberia.
-End-
