Amb. Nyenabo presents credentials to EU, Belgium
Ambassador Nyenabo (left) presents his papers to Mr. Tusk
Liberia’s Ambassador to European Union (EU) Isaac W. Nyenabo today presented his Letters of Credence to the President of the European Council Donald Tusk.
The ceremony was held at the President’s Salon at the Justus Lipsius Building, Rue de la Loi in Brussels, Belgium.
Ambassador Nyenabo extended, on behalf of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to the European Council President Tusk warm sentiments, heartfelt felicitations and great sense of appreciation for the EU’s significant contributions to Liberia over several decades.
Ambassador Nyenabo lauded the EU and its partners for responding to appeals made by President Sirleaf during the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus that affected Liberia resulting in the loss of many lives. Guinea and Sierra Leone were also affected by the virus.
He said the EU’s mobilization of financial and material resources was very important in achieving the gains that Liberia and its neighbors have made over the disease in recent months.
” As the Liberian Government embarks upon the challenges of post-Ebola recovery programs, the Government and people of Liberia would like to count on the European Union and the European Commission continuous support, especially in the health care delivery service, budgetary support, energy, infrastructure, agriculture and education to the Government to enable it meet the provision of social services to its people” Ambassador Nyenabo pleaded.
The Liberian diplomat said although Liberia is not out of the woods yet in defeating the Ebola virus, with few more days to be declared Ebola free, Liberia has made significant progress, noting that progress would not have been possible without the intervention and assistance from the union.
Ambassador Nyenabo commended the EU for the recently-signed €279 million development package under the European Union National Indicative Program (NIP) for EU 11th European Development Fund (EDF) in Liberia which covers 2014 to 2020. The package seeks to address key priority areas that are essential to growth and recovery from the medium and long-term.
He also praised the recent annnoucement that the EU has earmarked $310m support for Liberia in the next six years.
Ambassador Nyenabo said the recent Liberia and EU Political Dialogue Forum, which addressed the critically important areas of governance, investment opportunities for EU companies, security and justice has added new impetus and dynamism to the cordial relationship that has existed between the union and Liberia.
He said the dialogue forum provided the platform for a review mechanism that will look deeply into how these major areas can be addressed with support from the European Union, working closely with Liberian authorities.
Ambassador Nyenabo said in an event where the PMr. Tusk were to visit Africa in the future, he should consider making a stop in Liberia to see the positive development which the government has collectively embarked on with the international commmunity during and after the war years.
Mr. Tusk welcomed Ambassador Nyenabo and delegation to the EU and said the union is committted to supporting Liberia’s post ebola recovery and reconstruction programs.
He said the EU will support development programs and added that Liberia has turned the tides against Ebola and needs to now focus on its economic and national development programs. He added that the EU will remain engage with Liberia at all times.
The European Council President promised to visit Liberia in the near future when he is making any visit to Africa. He said such visit would further attract European investment and create the morale and psychology for the return of foreign investors who were doing business in Liberia and left due the outbreak of the Ebola crisis.
Majority of the European Council assistance to Liberia is financed through the European Development Fund (EDF), the main instrument to finance programs or projects which contribute to the economic, social or cultural development with the countries of Africa, Carribbean and Pacific.
- King Phillipe of Belgium receives Ambassador Nyenabo’s credentials
In a related development, Ambassador Nyenabo late last month present his credentials to King Phillippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace, the official seat of the Belgium Government.
The ambassador said, during the ceremony, that his country remains grateful to Belgium for the medical and other assistance provided during the height of the outbreak of the Ebola virus and before that the years of crises, a relationship that dates back to 1859 when both countries enjoyed the exchange of state visits by their heads of state.
” The rôle of Belgium medical doctors and other medical professionals in the fight against the Ebola virus disease outbreak and the MSF-Belgium continued presence on the ground during the Liberian civil crisis, have played a significant part in helping the country recovery process, and thus adding impetus to the health sector and the population at large” Ambassador Nyenabo added.
Ambassador Nyenabo appealed to King Phillppe for more assistance to the country’s health sector, as Liberia prepares for its post Ebola recovery process, provide scholarships and other educational opportunities to the country’s educational sector and students to study medicine and other sciences and its support to the agriculture, trade and commerce industries.
He also welcomed Belgium investment in Liberia in the areas of energy, trade and support to the country’s good governance, the rule of law and assistance to the University of Liberia and other higher institutions of learning across the country.
Receiving the letters, King Phillippe acknowledged Liberia’s recovery strategy through the ‘Marshall Plan’ and investment potentials and pledged his country’s support to those initiatives.
King Phillippe said Belgium will work closely with Liberia in strenthening and sustaining its bilateral relationship and the cordiality of friendship between the two countries and peoples.
Ambassador Nyenabo has served as vice president of the Agricultural Cooperative Development Bank, comptroller of Liberia, a senator and president pro tempore of the Liberian Senate.
Isaac C. Yeah, Minister Counselor Press and Public Affairs
