Embassy Media Room
Local Press Summary
(The Informer, 10/30/09) “IFES Delegation Pays Courtesy call on Vice President Bookie”
The visiting President and Chief Executive Officer of the US-based International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), Mr. William Sweeny has held talks in Monrovia with Liberia’s Vice President Joseph N. Bookie. During their discussions, Vice President Joseph Boakai said the Legislature was expediting measures to ensure the passage of the population Threshold Bill.. Mr. Boakai is also President of the Liberian Senate. The passage of the bill is critical the success of general and presidential elections in Liberia in 2011.
(Parrot, 10/30/09) “USAID Gives NEC US$17.5 M-For Electoral Support”
In fulfillment of US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s declaration of her country’s technical support for Liberia’s electoral program when she addressed a joint session of the Liberian Legislature in August, the United States Aid for International Development (USAID) has awarded the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC) “a mouth-watering” US$17.5 million for electoral support for the period of five years. USAID-Liberia Mission Acting Director, Carolyn Bryan announced the US grant Tuesday at a joint press conference in Monrovia, reaffirming USAID’s long-term commitment to the democratic process in Liberia.
(New Vision, 10/30/09) ”US Demands Credible 2011 Elections-Unveils US$17.5M Aid Package”
Ahead of general and presidential elections in Liberia in 2011, the United States of America is demanding free, fair, credible and non-partisan elections in Liberia as expressed by an official of USAID-Liberia. “USAID is launching a comprehensive package of assistance to help ensure that free, fair., credible, non-partisan elections are the rule in Liberia,” Carolyn Bryan, Deputy Mission Director for USAID declared Tuesday in Monrovia when at a joint press conference she announced a US$17.5 million grant in support of Liberia’s 2011 general and presidential elections and beyond for a five-year period.
(The News, 10/30/09) “US Restricts Travel by Guinea Junta”
The United States Government has restricted travel to the US by Guinea’s military junta which has been accused of planning an bloody crackdown on opposition protesters leading to the killing of more than 150 people.
(Public Agenda, 1030/09) “Obama Honors Fallen Americans At Dover”
Standing in the pre-dawn darkness, President Barack Obama saw the real cost of the war in Afghanistan: The Americans who return in flag-covered cases while much of the nation sleeps in peace.. In a midnight dash to this Delaware base, where US forces killed overseas come home, Obama honored the return of 18 fallen Americans Thursday. All were killed in Afghanistan this week.
(Public Agenda, 10/30/09) “Clinton Says Pakistan Bomb Calls for Greater Resolve”
US Secretary of State said the recent deadly bombing in Pakistan showed the need for “an even stronger commitment” to combat militants who threatened the region’s stability.
1.1 Liberian Coverage:
(New Democrat, 10/30/09) “2011 Race-Ellen Hints Readiness”
President Ellen Johnson Sir leaf has hinted that she would contest the 2011 elections, saying the bridge will be crossed when she gets there. But the Liberian President said she does not want to be detracted from her current agenda.
(New Democrat, 10/30/09) “ Tubman on Sherman-The President Shouldn’t Be Listening to Him…”
Opposition politician Winton Tubman has questioned the motives of President Ellen Johnson Sir leaf’s political partner and lawyer, Counselor Varney Sherman, saying Liberians have the right to question his agenda. Tubman said Counselor Sherman ‘s reference to the Liberian Constitution as “a protective shield” for President Sir leaf is “too late,” but conceded that Sherman’s argument that the Constitution protects the President in that no law can be made for acts she allegedly committed to warrant barring her for 30 years from holding public office [as contained in the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report] is valid.
(The News, 10/30/09) “US$15 Million Committed to Fight River-Blindness”
The British Department for International Development has committed 10 million pounds equivalent to US$15 million to 12 African countries including Liberia to implement programs that would eliminate river blindness
(The Renaissance, 10/30/09) “Government to Replace Old Passports”
The Liberian government will on Monday, November 2, 12009 formally launch the “new national biometric passports” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia,. A press release from the Ministry said the new passports will meet the global requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization for “biometric machine-readable passports” to be in effect by April 2010.
(New Democrat, 10/30/09) “Liberian Killed In Taliban Attack”
A female Liberian UN staff, Yah Lydia Women, was amongst six killed in Kabul Wednesday when Taliban militants bombed the Indian Embassy and attacked an international guest house hosting UN Staff, including Ms Wonyene.
(National Chronicle, 10/30/09) “President Sirleaf Celebrates 71st Birthday”
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sir leaf Thursday ,October 2, celebrated her 71st birthday outside the Liberian capital, Monrovia. The celebration took in the provincial city of Greenville in Sinoe County.