Liberia's President Moses Blah Pays visit To Sierra Leone

His Excellency Moses Z. Blah, President of the Republic of Liberia paid a one-day working visit to Sierra Leone on Friday 22nd August 2003.

H.E. President Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, Government Ministers and other dignitaries on arrival at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi, accorded President Moses Blah a warm welcome.

His Excellency Moses Blah was accompanied by -

Gen. (RTD.) Abdulsalaam Abubakarr - ECOWAS Chief Mediator on the Liberian peace talks

Hon. Lewis Browne - Minister of Foreign Affairs

Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas - Executive Secretary, Ecowas

Hon. Reginald Goodridge - Minister of Information, Culture and tourism

Mr. Eugene Nagbe - Deputy Minister/Special Assistant to the President

During the visit, both heads of state held fruitful discussion on matters of bilateral relations covering essentially, political, economic, social and security issues 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 willingness to revive and consolidate the Mano River Union and work towards the maintenance of sustainable peace, security and stability in the three member states.

President Blah briefed President Kabbah on the outcome of the peace talks in Accra, which culminated in the signing of a peace agreement on 18th August 2003. He expressed the hope that the peace settlement would further enhance stability within the Mano River union basin and the sub-region as a whole.

President Blah expressed profound gratitude and appreciation on behalf of all Liberians, to the sister Republics of Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea and all Ecowas member states, South Africa and the United States of America for their support in ensuring that the transfer of power in Liberia on 11th August 2003 was peaceful and successful.

He expressed appreciation to the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and the international community in general for their invaluable contribution towards the peace process.

President Blah expressed profound and sincere gratitude to President Kabbah and other sub-regional leaders, as well as international organizations whose mediating role immensely contributed to the signing of the historic peace agreement between his government and the two rebel movements in Accra, Ghana on 18th August 2003. President Blah expressed his government's intention to abide by and fully implement the said agreement.

President Blah appealed to President Kabbah, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union and the entire international community to render all possible assistance to Liberia in order to make the implementation of the peace agreement a success.

In recognition of the role of the Nigerian-led peace-keeping operations of Ecomil in Liberia, both Heads of State urged all Ecowas countries, which had pledged troops, financial assistance and logistics to Ecomil to fulfill their promise so as to accelerate and consolidate the momentum of the peacekeeping effort. They also appealed to other countries and the international community in general to provide logistical support for Ecomil.

On His part, His Excellency Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah congratulated His Excellency President Moses Blah on his assumption of office as Head of State of the Republic of Liberia and commended him for his sincerity and commitment to peace in his country. President Kabbah pledged to work with him in the promotion of peace, security and economic development in the Mano River Union basin.

President Blah expressed deep and sincere appreciation to President Kabbah, the government and people of Sierra Leone for the warm fraternal hospitality accorded him and his delegation during their stay in Sierra Leone and invited His Excellency Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah to visit Liberia at an early date.

The invitation was accepted while the date for the visit will be communicated through normal diplomatic channels.