AMBASSADOR PERRY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO SIERRA

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000612

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS NSC SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR PITTMAN
AND PEACE CORPS REGIONAL DIRECTOR MCKOY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: AMGT APER PREL SL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PERRY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO SIERRA
LEONE PRESIDENT KOROMA


Classified By: DCM S. Pratt, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Ambassador Perry presented her credentials to
President Ernest Bai Koroma on Monday, October 8, 2007 at
State House in Freetown during an informal session. She also
presented the Letters of Recall of her predecessor,
Ambassador Thomas N. Hull, III. The meeting was attended by
Vice President Sam Sam-Sumana, and MFA Director General
Ambassador Umaru Wurie, Presidential Spokesman Alpha Kanu as
well as DCM.


2. (C) After initial greetings, Ambassador Perry
congratulated President Koroma on his winning of the
presidency and the confidence he has inspired in others by
his leadership. The Ambassador also referenced the
congratulatory letter from President Bush. Koroma asked that
she convey his deep thanks to the White House for the
President's kind message.


3. (C) Ambassador Perry added that the American people very
much support his leadership and initiatives. She noted that
the U.S. wanted to assist Sierra Leone, within our ability,
to move forward on strengthening democracy and building a
solid economic base. Within that context, she looked forward
to helping support President Koroma's goals. She stated that
encouraging Sierra Leoneans to use the benefits available
under AGOA and, hopefully, strengthening Sierra Leone over
time to take advantage of the MCC Threshold program would be
key goals of her tenure as Ambassador to Sierra Leone. She
noted that she had come to Sierra Leone from Lesotho where
the U.S. and that country had recently concluded a compact
agreement. Citing her own experience with Peace Corps,
Ambassador Perry said she looked forward to the program's
re-entry to Sierra Leone at the appropriate time.


4. (C) President Koroma thanked the ambassador for the United
States, ongoing interest in Sierra Leone. He outlined his
goals of fighting corruption and developing the country's
energy and economic sectors. He stated that the challenges
of meeting high expectations among citizens were recognized.
In order to signal his seriousness in addressing corruption,
he plans to restructure the Anti-Corruption Commission to
ensure its complete independence. With the support of
partners like the U.S., Koroma said his government would make
every effort to meet those expectations. For the present, he
is confident that he has sent out clear signals, particularly
in his October 5 address at the Opening of Parliament
(septel),of the path he wants to take.


5. (C) President Koroma concluded by stating that he looks
forward to working with Ambassador Perry and strengthening
ties between the U.S. and Sierra Leone while working to
establish democracy in Sierra Leone.

PERRY