The Liberian people cannot repeat enough how grateful and blessed they are for the sacrifices the world community-through these international peace keepers—have made to save, stabilize, and propel our country, lifting her onto the path of true nationhood. I reecho this message on behalf of our President, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, whose pressing engagements could not permit her to be here with you today. 

  Her Excellency will have me inform you that Liberia today joins the scores of other member states of the world body, the United Nations, to salute United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on his continued fine stewardship of the United Nations.  Liberia is particularly heartened by the demonstrated commitment on the part of the United Nations to remain resolute in its quest for peace on the continent.

  The United Nations should remain assured of Liberia’s cooperation in the calculated and scrupulous draw down plan. We reinforce our full assurance to the world body of Liberia’s continuing commitment to the ideals that occasioned the promulgation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509 of September 2003, that engendered UNMIL. 

We need not declare that Liberia cherishes the correctness of the UNMIL mission and holds high faith and optimism in its potency and the vision guiding its course.

In this show of our gratitude, Liberians must take a firm stand against resort to violence. Our bitter history has thought us the folly of reliance on violence to solve social problems. Let me thus reecho the warning given by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf against the indulgence in acts of violence as a way of conveying grievance. This Government cannot preside over a drift back into the days of jungle justice and the survival of the fittest.

Thanks to our international friends—the peacekeepers—Liberia is today well embarked upon a trajectory of peace and progress. We cannot allow a reversal in the gains accrued thus far. Our march forward on the path of peace and concord will translate into a more substantive expression of our gratitude to those who have so hugely invested in us for the sake of peace.

Let me close by extending to you all present here today, and to all peoples of goodwill around the world, our best wishes for global unity, sustainable continental peace and cohesiveness as well as national harmony and healing.

Peace be unto you all!  Thank you very much.