AND 65TH SWEDEN-LIBERIA RELATION CELEBRATIONS
Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia President George Manneh Weah has congratulated the government and people of Sweden as they celebrate national day. The people of Sweden on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, celebrated 500 national days around the world.
President Weah on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, joined the Swedish embassy and Sweden nationals in Liberia to celebrate the national day. As Sweden celebrates a significant turning point in its history, President George Weah gave a statement at the ceremony expressing his deepest wishes and warmest felicitations to His Royal Majesty King Carl the 16th Gustaf, King of Sweden, as well as to the Government and friendly People of Sweden.
”I am honored to be here at the Executive Pavilion with you, Ambassador Sjostrom, your staff, and all Swedish citizens inside and outside the Republic of Liberia on this auspicious occasion. I also want to express my sincere admiration for the Swedish People for pulling off the remarkable feat of remaining a nation-state for five centuries. The fact that the country has been independent since 1523 is a wonderful accomplishment that deserves to be honored.”
Since 1958, Liberia and Sweden have had strong bilateral ties that have withstood the test of time and have continued to strengthen over the past 65 years. One of the biggest foreign aid contributors to Liberia over the years, Sweden has also made significant development investments in the country.
The contribution of the Swedish business sector to the Liberian American-Swedish Minerals Company (LAMCO), which ran in Liberia from 1963 until 1989 was very important to Liberia’s economy growth. The investment was at the time the biggest Swedish business venture in Africa. Liberia’s political and social landscape have been significantly altered by LAMCO.
Sweden has been actively involved in the post-conflict development and reconstruction of Liberia through the Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation (SIDA). SIDA has made a substantial contribution to the efforts in Liberia to promote democracy, human rights, and economic growth as well as to protect the environment and the climate.
President Weah said Liberia applaud SIDA’s efforts and remain appreciative of the Swedish government’s assistance and collaboration. The Liberian leader vowed that his country will uphold peace and security both at home and abroad. He also vowed that Liberia would practice good governance, transparency, and respect for human rights.
”Liberians will go to the polls to participate in Presidential and Legislative elections. As I have repeatedly said on many occasions, my Government promise to conduct these elections in a manner that is free, fair, transparent and credible, that will meet the highest national and international standards, so that the voice of our people will be heard and respected. We are aware that the outcome of the October 10th elections will define our future course; whether they will enhance our growing democratic credentials and allow us to continue on the path of peace; or whether we will relapse into confusion and conflict. For my part as the Political Leader of this Country, and Head of State and Government, I am convinced that, with the full cooperation and support of our international friends and partners, we will achieve the desired objectives of these elections, and that Liberia will continue on the path of peace, security and stability.”
”We remain upbeat that the strength of our bilateral relations will continue to grow from strength-to-strength as we explore ever wider areas of heightened cooperation. Please be assured that Liberia remains committed to our common position on international affairs, including the advancement of global peace and security, rule-based international order, democracy and the promotion of gender equality and human rights, including freedom for all peoples.”
For his part, Sweden Ambassador to Liberia Urban Sjostrom said, Gustav Vasa was crowned king of Sweden in 1523,on June 6th. Vasa’s election resulted in Sweden’s independence from Norway and Denmark. During his reign, Sweden lay the groundwork for the robust political systems that have served the country so for so long.
Sweden became the first nation to include freedom of speech in its constitution in 1766. Public access to official papers, which offered people the opportunity to scrutinize both public offices and politicians, came together with freedom of expression. This idea is still in place and is a crucial part of how democratic governance works in Sweden.
The power structure between the King and the Parliament was altered with the adoption of a new constitution in Sweden in 1809. As the lines between legislative, judicial, and executive power were drawn more clearly, the concept of the separation of powers became crucial. Sweden also established the first office of its sort in the world, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen. This is the organization that people can currently go to if they have concerns regarding public officials.
According to the ambassador, Sweden’s citizens adopted parliamentarism in 1917. He noted that the Parliament is now responsible to the people, while the administration is now responsible to the Parliament and needs its support. The government is no longer chosen by the King. Women are granted the right to vote in parliamentary elections and to run for office for the first time in 1921. And the current Swedish instrument of government came into effect in 1974.
Amb. Sjostrom said, Swedish democracy is founded on the free formation of opinion and on universal and equal suffrage. He noted that it is realised through a representative and parliamentary form of government and through local self-government, added that public power is exercised under the law.
The ambasador continue that due to thewar in Europe, Sweden is currently leading the EU. It is in the best interests of the EU and the rest of the world to help stop Russia’s aggression since their invasion of Ukraine is wholly unacceptable. In addition to denouncing the aggression and standing up to defend the UN Charter, democracy, and human rights, it is crucial to continue providing Ukraine with political, economic, military, humanitarian, and legal help.
”In this important line of work, we know we have a partner in Liberia and I am proud to announce that 2023 also marks 65 years of excellent bilateral relations between Liberia and Sweden. In 1958 Knut Richard Thyberg was accredited as the first Swedish Ambassador to Liberia and the year before the Liberian American Swedish Mining Company, LAMCO, was formed – constituting one of the largest foreign investments from Sweden during that time. More than 10 000 Swedes worked at LAMCO and many Swedes therefore have a special relation to Liberia.”
”Sweden also has a longstanding relation with Liberia within peacebuilding and development cooperation. Many Swedes served in the peace keeping mission UNMIL. Sweden contributed with a military rapid response force as well as police and civilian staff. We are also proud that one Swede served as the head of UNMIL, Karin Landgren, who served as the SRSG 2012-2015. Sweden is also since 2012 the chair of the UN Peace Building Commission Country Configuration for Liberia.”
Sweden and Liberia have a broad development cooperation since 2009 focusing on four areas:
- Human rights, democracy, principles of the rule of law and gender equality
- Peaceful and inclusive societies
- Inclusive economic development
- Environment, climate and sustainable use of natural resources
The ambassador expressed concern about the Farmington River Declaration signed by all political parties. ”I am also pleased with the MoU signed by the majority of political parties to improve gender equality in the candidate pool and hence improve political representation that reflects Liberia’s 49.8% female population. We applaud this as a crucial milestone in Liberia’s democratic progress.”
Ambassador Urban Sjostrom committed his country continue relationship with Liberia. The ceremony brought together diplomats, Sweden citizens, government officials and well-wishers at the Executive Pavillion in central Monrovia.
