PRESIDENT SIRLEAF DELIVERS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO LEGISLATURE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MONROVIA 000164

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KDEM LI
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SIRLEAF DELIVERS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO LEGISLATURE

REF: (A.) 09 MONROVIA 802; (B.) 10 MONROVIA 95; (C.) 10 MONROVIA 97


1. (U) SUMMARY. President Sirleaf delivered her fifth annual
message to the National Legislature on January 25. In it she
highlighted legislation needed to continue national recovery, and
discussed her administration's accomplishments, challenges and
plans according to the pillars of the national Poverty Reduction
Strategy (PRS). Significantly, she cautioned Liberians about the
challenges ahead, vowed to intensify her fight against corruption,
recognized the country's lingering economic problems, and promised
continued infrastructure expansion, especially in terms of access
to roads, water and electricity. Sirleaf, in a deviation from her
scripted speech, offered a way forward on dealing with
recommendations detailed in the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation
Commission's (TRC) final report and concluded her address by
announcing her intent to run for re-election in 2011 (Ref B). END
SUMMARY.




2. (U) President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf delivered a condensed
34-page version of her fifth annual message to a joint assembly of
Liberia's National Legislature on January 25. (A longer 85-page
version, she told legislators, would be uploaded to her office's
website.) The first part of the speech closely mirrored the goals
outlined in the GOL's Poverty Reduction Strategy and Sirleaf
emphasized her administration's successes and shortcomings
according to the PRS' four pillars: (1) peace and security, (2)
economic revitalization, (3) good governance and the rule of law,
and (4) infrastructure and basic social services. The president
also touched on Liberia's relations with international partners.




3. (U) In a deviation from the version of her speech prepared for
delivery, Sirleaf offered her recommendations on how the GOL should
respond to the final TRC reports recommendations. Then, in an
unexpected move, the president, concluded the address by announcing
her intent to run for re-election (Ref B).



MESSAGE STARTS BY MIRRORING POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY GOALS

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4. (U) LEGISLATIVE AGENDA: Sirleaf first highlighted the previous
year's legislative achievements (Ref A),then followed with a list
of legislation still under consideration that she views as key to
continuing Liberia's "national renewal." Achievements include: the
Public Financial Management Act, amendments to the National
Commission on Human Rights Act of 2005, and acts establishing the
National Airport Authority, Land Commission, and National Transit
Authority. The president then noted legislation to be put forward
in 2010, including: the National Security and Intelligence Reform
Act, an act amending the public procurement and concessions
process, and key concession agreements and forestry management
contracts. She also warned that, in its current form, the
recently-passed Threshold Bill (Ref A) carried fiscal consequences
that might "threaten the development [that Liberia] worked hard to
promote." [NOTE. The bill would increase the number of seats in
Liberia's House of Representatives at a cost of up to USD 6
million. END NOTE.]




5. (U) PEACE AND SECURITY: Sirleaf accompanied a description of
the progress made in the restructuring and expansion of Liberia's
security forces, with a call for Liberians to take more
responsibility for their country's security as it looks to a
continued drawdown of UNMIL forces. She noted that the Armed
Forces of Liberia, National Coast Guard, Liberia National Police
Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and Special Security Service (SSS)
were all strengthened in 2009, while recognizing that the
presidential SSS suffered from occasional aggressive "lapses." She
said that the LNP Police Support Unit would be expanded to 600
officers by the end of the year. The National Commission on
Disarmament, Demobilization, Resettlement and Reintegration, she
continued, will wind down activities in mid-2010 after assisting
over 7,000 ex-combatants.




6. (U) ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION: The president lauded her

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government's economic revitalization efforts since its inauguration
in January 2006, but acknowledged the effect of the global
financial crunch in 2009. Even so, she emphasized that her
government is doing everything possible to reach the Highly
Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) completion point in mid-2010. Sirleaf
further highlighted that the GOL achieved a revenue surplus in 2009
amounting to USD 6.8 million fueled by a rigid internal tax revenue
regime. She noted that her government is currently experiencing a
budgetary shortfall, which continues to challenge her development
and poverty reduction agenda. While several mineral development
and agricultural concession agreements signed in 2009 contributed
to the increase in revenue collection, she acknowledged that these
contracts have not yet yielded the jobs she expected. All aspects
of the economy, however, in her view, continue to grow remarkably.




7. (U) President Sirleaf acknowledged that agricultural growth is
more effective in reducing poverty than any other sector. As a
result of the GOL's "Back to the Soil" program, production of local
agricultural products has grown significantly. The rubber sector
experienced low production in 2009 while the cocoa and coffee
sectors are being revitalized, but roads and bridges are being
constructed to strengthen the country's agricultural sector. Rice
and oil palm production, she said, would be significantly stepped
up in 2010. Sirleaf also pushed for greater centralized control of
economic development by urging that County Development Funds be
managed by the executive branch through the county superintendents.
However, she encouraged county legislative caucuses to exercise
their oversight responsibility to ensure the expenditure of funds
in a transparent manner.




8. (U) GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF LAW: Sirleaf characterized
corruption as one of the defining challenges for Liberia, lamenting
that the actions of officials, including those close to her,
undermine her credibility and that of the country. She emphasized
that her government is committed to delivering an improved system
of governance that is more localized and responsive to the needs
and aspirations of citizens. The president acknowledged the lack
of adequate capacity in the judicial system, which has sometimes
proved less effective in her anti-corruption drive, but vowed to
intensify her fight against corruption in 2010. Sirleaf noted the
creation of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission in 2009 and the
passage of the Whistle Blower Act as steps to enhance the GOL good
governance policy. President Sirleaf also hailed the establishment
of the Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative.




9. (U) INFRASTRUCTURE AND BASIC SOCIAL SERVICES: President Sirleaf
said that rebuilding the physical and social infrastructure
destroyed because of the Liberian civil war remains a central focus
of her government. In 2009, she said, rehabilitation of 380 miles
of roadway in 12 counties was completed. The Ministry of Public
Works installed nine Bailey bridges and 223 road safety signs, and
rehabilitated 12 public buildings. In 2010, the government will
continue to expand its restoration of water and electricity to most
parts of Monrovia. The government is working on ways to finance the
restoration of the Mount Coffee Hydroelectric Power Plant and, in a
seemingly direct address to donors, she called it "the most
efficient way to provide electricity to Liberia."




10. (U) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Monrovia, Sirleaf said, hosts 18
diplomatic missions of partner countries and she thanked donors for
providing USD 534 million in assistance in 2009, but, adopting a
gently scolding tone, noted that only 17 percent of those funds
went to direct budget support. She said that the guiding
principles of Liberia's foreign policy remain unchanged. Her
government will continue to promote peace, development and
cooperation amongst nations of the world.



PLANNED DEVIATIONS FROM THE SCRIPTED VERSION?

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11. (U) TRC REPORT: The TRC Report has been the most significant
source of debate in Liberia since its June 2009 release; President
Sirleaf was listed among those recommended in the report for a
30-year ban from public office (Ref B). Sirleaf praised the report
and said that its recommendations would "heal, reconcile, restore,

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and build peace, prosperity and the progress of our nation." She
then pressed Liberians to carefully digest the report and make a
conscious national determination to move ahead "cautiously and
strategically" in the implementation of the recommendations.




12. (U) The President further urged the Senate to confirm those
persons nominated to the Independent National Human Rights
Commission (INHCR) so they can begin working. She then proposed
amendments to the INHRC Act of 2005 to enable that body to work in
collaboration with the Ministry of Justice to determine which
recommendations are implementable or enforceable under the
constitution and laws of Liberia. Sirleaf underscored that the two
TRC's proposals on national "Palaver Hut" reconciliation programs
and reparations are true measures for reconciliation and committed
herself to working with the Legislature to determine the processes
and identify the resources for implementation of these two
recommendations.




13. (U) In a final unexpected turn, the president announced her
intent to run for re-election in 2011, despite a 2005 campaign
promise to seek only one term (Ref B). This final statement drew a
rousing response from nearly all legislators present.



COMMENT

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14. (SBU) Since January 25, the public debate on whether or not
Sirleaf should run for re-election and on her suggestions for a
response to the TRC's recommendations has overshadowed and largely
muted any strong reaction to the speech. Opposition responses to
the first part of Sirleaf's speech addressing PRS successes and
challenges, and only began to appear in the press after one week.
Commentators instead continue to focus almost wholly on the
president's re-election announcement. Sirleaf's annual,
constitutionally-required presentation has been overshadowed by an
apparent unofficial kickoff of campaigning for the 2011 vote.
Pre-election stumping could prevent much-needed collaboration
between the president and legislature and hinder Liberia's recovery
in 2010.




15. (U) The full collection of President Sirleaf's annual messages
and an expanded version of the 2010 address are available online
at: http://www.emansion.gov.lr/ under the "Speeches" tab.
ROBINSON