Liberian leader hails progress, says more aid needed

from The International Herald Tribune

The Associated Press
WASHINGTON

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Monday hailed the gains her year-old government has achieved but warned that the country's recovery is fragile and needs continued outside help.

"Slowly but steadily we are making out way back. We know we can create a new peaceful, open and prosperous Liberia," she said in a speech at the outset of an official visit here.

But she expressed concern that international attention on Liberia may be flagging. Assistance for her country should be accelerated not leveled off, she said.

Johnson Sirleaf spoke to a crowd of 200, an event organized by the Center for Global Development, an independent think tank that works to reduce global poverty and inequality.

She is Africa's first female head of state, whose election in 2005 heralded what many hoped would usher in a new era of peace in Liberia after a quarter century of bloody coups and war. During those years, she twice was forced into exile to escape political harassment.

Johnson Sirleaf's visit here coincides with an international donors conference and other activities that, she said, will go a long way toward determining the pace of progress in her country.

She said the achievements of her government include a start toward revitalizing rice production and attracting foreign investment. She also said 7,000 members of the security forces of deposed President Charles Taylor have been deactivated, and retraining and rehabilitation are well under way. School enrollment has been rising sharply, she added.

"We want to be an example that war-torn dictatorships can be turned around," she said.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. told the gathering that additional U.S. help is needed to ensure that plans for rebuilding the Liberian national army are fulfilled.

All the outside assistance "will go for naught unless there is peace and stability," Jackson said.

He also called for forgiveness of Liberia's $3.7 billion (€2.8 billion) national debt. He said Johnson Sirleaf's government "should not be held accountable for debt that was accumulated by successive military dictatorships."

Liberia was settled by former U.S. slaves in the mid-19th Century and historically has had close ties to the United States. China is strengthening ties with Liberia, partly because of interest in access to the country's mineral wealth. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Liberia on Feb. 1, the second country on his eight-nation Africa tour.