MONROVIA, April 28 (LINA) - Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan has extolled the European Union (EU) for its “exceptional contributions and partnership” which have greatly impacted Liberia’s developmental agenda.
Ngafuan recounted that the EU has always been a friend of Liberia, especially with the numerous support given to the nation’s priority areas which include security, energy and agriculture as well as human rights and education.
Speaking at the start of the third EU-Liberia Political Dialogue at the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia Tuesday, Ngafuan indicated that as a nation, Liberia will remain appreciative to EU member states as well as the Paris Club which was gracious to cancel significant portion of Liberia’s debts.
“We acknowledge with esteem that the EU prides itself as the highest contributor to Liberia’s budget, a position it has maintained for many years," Ngafuan noted.
He also praised the EU’s response to Liberia’s Ebola crisis, terming as “massive” the over 1.2 billion Euros contributed to the fight against the deadly Ebola virus.
The EU-Liberia Political Dialogue, which was launched about three years ago, is a structured and regular political event between the EU and Liberia aimed at furthering frank and open discussions and taking substantive decisions that will strengthen the relationship between the two parties.
Since its inception, Liberia and the EU have successfully staged two productive dialogues, on November 22, 2012 and February 17, 2014, both of which were preceded by the signing of the Forest Governance and Trade Agreement and the March 2014 International Conference on Ebola during which Liberia and the EU signed a 279 million Euro development package.
LINA WSG/JGT/TSS/PTK