(Dispatch)
Liberian Foreign Minister D. Maxwell Kemayah has held talks with EU officials on investing more in technical vocational education, agriculture and fisheries, Migration and mobility, Peace and Security, Cooperative investment in Youth development programs.
They also spoke of the need for budget support to Liberia’s upcoming special senatorial elections.
During his meeting with the Managing Director of African Affairs at the European Extended Action Service (EEAS) Ambassador Koen Vervaeke, they discussed the need to reinforce EU-Liberia effort to further promote bilateralism and multilateralism aimed at strengthening economic cooperation.
Mr. Kemayah, asserted that the ripple effects of COVID-19 has seriously affected the economies of developing countries, Liberia being no exception.
He also spoke of plans to reform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accommodate current contemporary diplomacy.
In February 2018, the EU programmed its financial support to Liberia through the National Indicative Program and the 11EDF for the period 2018-2020 with key interventions aimed at responding to the government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.
The Liberian Foreign Minister recounted the existence of the partnership which dates back to 1975 when Liberia signed the ACP-EU partnership in George Town.
That agreement covers governance, freedom of speech, health infrastructure development, among others.
He also assured the EU of Liberia’s current efforts in resolving the issues concerning the Yellow-Card imposed by the EU on Liberia’s maritime and fisheries activities.
For his part, Ambassador Vervaeke expressed appreciation for the level of commitment and cooperation of the Liberian government towards multilateralism, and thanked Kemayah for the exchange. The EU envoy also congratulated him for his recent appointment, and assured the minister of EU’s continuous engagement through mutual partnership.
The Foreign Affairs Minister was accompanied to the European Extended Action Service by Liberia’s Ambassador to the EU, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg, Dr. Isaac W. Nyenabo, II and the Minister – Counsellor Press and Public Affairs at the Liberian embassy in Brussels, Mr. Senve Darlington Tehmeh,.
As part of the visit, Kemayah also met with Diplomatic Officers and General Staff at the Embassy in Brussels, where he thanked them for their service to the country and encouraged them to work in the interest of their people and government.