UN team visits post-election Liberia to evaluate future support
10 February 2006 – A United Nations assessment team is travelling around Liberia to evaluate the general conditions for peacebuilding and to recommend adjustments to the UN mission’s (UNMIL) mandate that could be included in Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s report to the Security Council next month.
Mr. Annan’s Deputy Special Representative for Recovery and Governance, Jordan Ryan, told UNMIL Radio that although the mission will continue to provide security in the country, it will intensify its focus on the rule of law, economic recovery and good governance.
“Now that we have had democratic elections and there is a new president, it is time to transit to development to make sure that everyone in Liberia has a better life,” Mr. Ryan said.
Commenting on UNMIL’s priorities, Mr. Ryan stressed the need for community-based development, in addition to providing electricity and constructing roads.
At the same time, he cautioned that the newly elected Government must hold itself accountable to the people and build public trust in its policies.
Mr. Ryan said he and the assessment team were briefed by the military, police and civilian components of UNMIL. In Voinjama county, they visited a UNHCR transit centre where a convoy of nearly 300 refugees had just returned from Guinea.
The assessment team, comprising military, police, political experts, human rights and humanitarian affairs officers, is headed by Dmitry Titov, Director of the Africa Division of the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
