By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Ambassador-Designate Nora Deprez of European Union and her Excellency Ambassador Isabelle Le Guellec of France along with Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. has received in audience two incoming Western Ambassadors-Designate to Liberia, who paid him a courtesy call at his Capitol Hill office in Monrovia.
The visit, which took place on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, came ahead of their separate meetings with President George Manneh Weah aimed at presenting their Letters of Credence to the Liberian leader.
The two Ambassadors-Designate, who are expected to present their Letters of Credence to the Liberian President, include the Ambassador-Designate Nora Deprez of European Union and Ambassador Isabelle Le Guellec of the Republic of France.
At a separate ceremony, Minister Kemayah received copies of the Letters of Credence from each of the Ambassador-Designate and congratulated them for their preferment as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Liberia.
Receiving copies of the credential from the Ambassador-Designate of European Union, Minister Kemayah hailed the cordial bilateral relations between Liberia and the European Union and assured the Ambassador-Designate of Liberia’s determination to strengthen cooperation with the EU aimed at enhancing growth and development for Liberia.
The Dean of the Liberian Cabinet expressed optimism that the bilateral Cooperation between Liberia and EU will be further enhanced during the tenure of Madam Nora Deprez as Ambassador.
Welcoming the Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of France, Foreign Minister Kemayah recounted the historic ties dating back in the 1840s when France was one of the the first countries to recognized Liberia’s Independence and expressed confidence that Liberia-France relations will be marked by excellent achievements through bilateral cooperation during the tenure of Ambassador Nora Deprez.
Foreign Minister Kemayah then assured the French’s Ambassador-Designate of his Ministry’s willingness to assist the French’s Envoy in making her tour of duty in Liberia fruitful and rewarding.
He said Liberia looks forward to working closely with the incoming Envoy to promote and strengthen bilateral cooperation with EU, mainly in the area of trade, forestry and youth empowerment.
Also responding, the Ambassador-Designate of France Madam Isabelle Le Guellec said together with EU, France has been a committed partner of Liberia for many years now, noting that as her predecessor already underlined in his presentation in December 2020, H.E. Emmanuel Macron set forth, in November 2017 in Ouagadougou, his vision of a new relation between France and African countries, based on common interests, transparency and reciprocity.
Ambassador-Designate Le Guellec mentioned that the partnership between France and Liberia is founded on shared political values, respect of human rights and fundamental freedom, democratic principles, good governance and the rule of law, adding that it is based on a shared vision of a world of sovereign countries ruled by international law and multilateral cooperation.
Madam Le Guellec said France welcomes the strong will of the government of Liberia for free, fair, transparent, peaceful, credible and inclusive elections, stressing that she want to underline that France will be actively participating in the European Union Electoral Observation Mission and will remain disposal of, together with EU and other international partners for the any exchange of views and the technical review in the days and weeks following the elections.
Madam Le Guellec said the government of Liberia has been fostering sustainable development and inclusive growth, addressing the most compelling needs of the population, stating that together with EU, France is supporting and encouraging this agenda, as well as the reforms it commends, further increase accountability and good governance.