Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MONROVIA98
2008-02-01 15:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:  

LIBERIA: PRESIDENT'S 2008 ANNUAL MESSAGE TO

Tags:  PREL PGOV KCRM KCOR EAID ECON LI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000098 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W PDAVIS
INR BGRAVES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM KCOR EAID ECON LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: PRESIDENT'S 2008 ANNUAL MESSAGE TO
LEGISLATURE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000098

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W PDAVIS
INR BGRAVES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM KCOR EAID ECON LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: PRESIDENT'S 2008 ANNUAL MESSAGE TO
LEGISLATURE


1. (U) SUMMARY. In her Annual Message to the Legislature
January 28, President Sirleaf called corruption Liberia's
"number one enemy" and asked the Legislature to pass the
draft bills establishing the Anti-Corruption Commission and
the Code of Conduct for Public Servants soon. She also asked
the Governance Commission to recommend amendments to
"modernize" the Constitution within the next two years.
Sirleaf called the U.S. Liberia's "key (bilateral) partner"
and repeatedly highlighted specific USG assistance. She said
she felt "honored" to receive the U.S. Presidential Medal of
Freedom and closed by welcoming President and Mrs. Bush's
visit next month. The full text of the speech is available
on the Executive Mansion's website at:
www.emansion.gov.lr/doc/2007annual msg.pdf. END SUMMARY.

ACHIVEMENTS OF 2007
--------------


2. (U) In her second Annual Message to a special joint
session of Congress on January 28, President Sirleaf reviewed
the achievements of her Administration over the last year
including the reconstruction and retraining of the Armed
Forces of Liberia and the Liberian National Police; growth in
agriculture, investment, banking, and mining; progress on
debt relief and resolution of government arrears; and
improved education, health care, and infrastructure. She
thanked donors for their across-the-board support, and
thanked the Legislature for its ratification of the
Telecommunications Act, the Governance Commission Act, and an
amendment to the Labor Practices Law.

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR 2008: FIGHT CORRUPTION
--------------


3. (U) President Sirleaf called corruption Liberia's "number
one enemy" and vowed to prosecute any government official at
any level for corrupt behavior. She asked the Congress to
consider and pass several draft acts (that have already been
submitted including the Investment and revised Revenue Codes)
as soon as possible as they have "important implications for
the resolution of the debt problem" and for attracting

investment. She asked that the Legislature "give the
Administration the teeth to deal with this evil" of
corruption by passing the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, the
Code of Conduct Act for Public Officials, the Act to Amend
the Penal Law to classify all corruption as criminal, an act
to limit the ability to transfer between budget lines, and an
act to merge the Bureau of the Budget into the Ministry of
Finance. (Note: The latter two are benchmarks for Liberia's
post arrears clearance IMF program.)

UPCOMING INITIATIVES FOR 2008
--------------


4. (U) Sirleaf said she would submit during the present
session several draft bills for consideration, including the
National Defense Act, the Security Sector Reform Act, a draft
amendment to the Act Establishing the Independent National
Commission on Human Rights, a Freedom of Information Law, a
Whistleblower Statute, and the creation of the Liberia
Airport Authority. She noted she would also seek legislative
approval for several concession agreements with foreign
investors. She also said that as a courtesy, and in the
spirit of cooperation, the Executive Branch would continue to
forward concession agreements on oil exploration to Congress
for its approval.

CONSTITUTION NEEDS TO BE "MODERNIZED"
--------------


5. (U) Sirleaf said it was time that the GOL modernize its
Constitution to reflect the current practices of government.
She called upon the Governance Commission to embark upon a
thoughtful and fully consultative process to review the
Constitution and make recommendations within the next two
years. She suggested that amendments to the Constitution
ought to include land reform, the election of county
superintendents, mayors and other local officials, as well as
reduction of the length of tenure of the office of the
President, Vice President, and Members of the Legislature.
She did not mention redefining the criteria for Liberian
citizenship or land ownership. (Note: Only Liberian citizens
can own land and only persons of the negro race can be
Liberian citizens.)

GRATITUDE FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE TO LIBERIA
--------------

MONROVIA 00000098 002 OF 002




6. (U) President Sirleaf called the United States Liberia's
"key (bilateral) partner" and repeatedly listed the U.S.
first in her acknowledgement of donor partners. She
highlighted the USG work on infrastructure, particularly the
renovation of the Capitol Building and the Temple of Justice.
She also praised U.S. support on electricity, adding that it
had allowed the power supply to reach two of Monrovia's
suburbs, Congotown and Paynesville. Although she had high
praise for the OPIC-funded Liberian Enterprise Development
Finance Company, she mistakenly attributed the funding to a
private U.S. citizen who is providing lending to operate the
fund, rather than highlighting OPIC's contribution.


7. (U) Regarding education, Sirleaf thanked USAID for the
launch of the Liberia Teacher Training Program and added that
the return of the Peace Corps could further enhance this
effort. She looked forward to more details about Liberia's
inclusion in President Bush's International Education
Initiative. She was also pleased that the American
International School of Monrovia reopened and welcomed U.S.
support to renovate part of the University of Liberia's
Fendell campus.


8. (U) On health, the President lauded medical teams from
five U.S. universities and the Mercy Ship who came to share
their skills with Liberia last year. She cited as well the
USG renovation of the Tubman National Institute for Medical
Arts. She encouraged the agriculture sector to explore
production of non-traditional crops that could be exported to
the United States under Liberia's new AGOA eligibility. She
also mentioned the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority's "Open
Skies" Agreement concluded with the United States in February

2007.


9. (U) Finally, Sirleaf said that she felt "honored" and
"privileged" to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom
from President Bush as well as the Civil Rights Museum Award
and the National Democratic Institute's Harriman Award. She
closed the speech by asking all Liberians to help her welcome
President and Mrs. Bush to the country during their upcoming
visit.

COMMENT
--------------


10. (SBU) Sirleaf's 2008 Annual Message was a solid summary
of the accomplishments and intentions of a dynamic
administration working in a difficult post-conflict
environment. The speech was well received, except for
moments of awkward silence by some in the audience following
the anti-corruption points. The passage of the
Anti-Corruption Commission Act and a Code of Conduct Act for
Public Officials is crucial to Liberia's efforts to reach the
completion point of the Highly Indebted Poor Country debt
clearance process. The Legislature appears to have made
these bills a priority. President Sirleaf's emphasis on U.S.
contributions to Liberia's reconstruction help set the stage
for a warm welcome for President Bush. When she asked
Liberians to join her in welcoming President and Mrs. Bush to
Liberia, there was thunderous applause.
Booth