Monrovia, Liberia – Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, foreign minister of Liberia, has urged all well-intentioned governments and nations to strongly condemn the Russian Federation for its ongoing unprovoked acts of barbarism, cruelty, and inhumanity being committed against the peaceful people of Ukraine’s government and people.
According to Minister Kemayah, the government of Liberia stands with the government and people of Ukraine and the international coalition in support, sympathy, and solidarity in order to ensure that those who bear the greatest responsibility for the unjustified mayhem, brutalities, and atrocities in Ukraine are held fully accountable for their unjust and brutal actions against that sovereign nation, no matter what, and for however long.
Minister Kemayah made the statement during his Keynote Address at an event commemorating World Refugee Day held at the Monrovia City Hill on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in Monrovia. This year’s World Refugee Day was celebrated under the theme: “Hope Away From Home.”
Minister Kemayah added that Liberia and its international allies share values with regard to democracy, international trade, maintaining and promoting the rule-based international order, and upholding the tenets of the United Nations Charter and other pertinent international laws. He claimed that Liberia and its allies maintain the conventions and accords pertaining to the respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and right to self-determination of all nation-states around the globe, notably the great and tenacious people of Ukraine.
“Liberia has consistently and strongly expressed its opposition to the war in Ukraine in all international fora, and it will do so going forward. The restoration of genuine and enduring peace to Ukraine is the goal of His Excellency Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, and the Government and People of Ukraine, Minister Kemayah remarked. According to the Dean of the Cabinet, Liberia would continue to support all UN Resolutions and coordinated efforts by the international community to bring Just and Lasting Peace back to Ukraine. Liberia was previously a well-known refugee-producing country in West Africa. The fourteen years of horrific civil conflict uprooted and destroyed the whole nation. Liberia’s whole populace was forcibly uprooted.”
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which was signed on August 18, 2003, in Accra, Republic of Ghana, ended the country’s brutal 14-year civil war. Amb. Kemayah noted that Liberia has transitioned from war to peace, emphasizing that “2023 is an important year for Liberia as it celebrates 20 years of uninterrupted peace since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on August 18, 2003, in Accra, Republic of Ghana.”
The Liberian Chief Diplomat said Liberia is a resounding peace building success story for ECOWAS, AU, MRU and the United Nations, including the Governments and Peoples of their respective Member States, for the restoration of peace and security, democracy and the rule of law in Liberia.
He pointed out that today Liberia celebrates the gallantry and commitment of all those who lost their lives during the ECOMOG and UN Peacekeeping Operations in Liberia.
He narrated that Liberia will forever be grateful and thankful to its neighbors in Africa, United Nations and international partners worldwide who sacrificed so much to return the country to peace, stability, democracy and to be counted among the comity of nations.
He stated that the Government of Liberia, through the LRRRC and other relevant agencies, has worked over the years in fulfilling its commitments towards refugees within the borders of Liberia.
According to him, the Government of Liberia has done much in bringing this year’s theme to reality, adding “between the period 2018 and 2020, the Government of Liberia under the astute Leadership of His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, provided EU Spotlight Initiative, land in the quantity of about 1,310 acres in Bahn, Nimba County and PTP, Grand Gedeh County where integrated refugees are currently living in durable shelters.
He further stressed that the social and economic integration of these refugees, who are certainly far away from home, is ensured by the provision of quality education and other productive and beneficial activities that will make them self-sufficient, and contribute to the economic activities of the host country, in this case, Liberia.
The Minister also hailed the President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah for signing an Executive Order No. 108, which supports integration and access to social services and safety nets for refugees and other vulnerable population in Liberia.
He said this is intended to enable former Ivorian refugees benefit from simplified procedures that enable continued enjoyment of their existing rights to basic services; including access to education, health care, and infrastructure; inclusive of housing.
Foreign Minister Kemayah mentioned that they will also benefit from accelerated and no cost regularization of their long term status and documentation for permanent residency to optimize local integration, and live in dignity and peace.
