Foreign ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have ended a one-day meeting in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. A review of the material issued at the end of the meeting addressed the security situation in the region and how to revive the economy of war-ravaged Liberia. Mohammed Ibn Chambas is the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS. From the Liberian capital, Monrovia, Doctor Chambas discussed the subjects of the meeting with English to Africa reporter James Butty.
“The transcripts expressed appreciation to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for hosting the meeting of the ECOWAS foreign ministers here in Liberia and also consider the security situation in the sub-region, notably in Cote d’Ivoire and here in Liberia and Guinea Bissau.”
The meeting called on the UN Security Council to lift sanctions imposed on Liberia. Additionally, it proposed that Guinea Bissau, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, all post-conflict countries, to be considered as priority countries to be included in the work of the newly established UN Peace Building Commission.
“On Cote d’Ivoire, the foreign ministers welcome the announcement that citizens identification and DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, Re-insertion of the irregular forces) will commence on May 18, 2006. They called upon all the Ivorian parties to continue to work together to return their country durable peace and normalcy and to ensure the holding of credible, open free and fair elections by October 2006.”
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