intended to destabilize the two countries. The reports also allege that these Ivorian Nationals, some of whom may have been refugees, were returned to La Cote d'Ivoire.

The   Government   of Liberia   is investigating   these   reports   to ascertain   the facts   and circumstances surrounding these events.

Meanwhile, the Government of Liberia wishes to state categorically that it is fully committed to the protection of all its citizens and those seeking refuge in Liberia. Liberia's national experience of the recent  past dictates  that respect  for  the rule of law as the hallmark  for healing the nation, consolidating its young democracy, reforming  its governance  model and good neighborliness should form the cornerstone of its national policy.

This is why in spite of the fragility of its situation as it emerges slowly and steadily from its own national crisis, Liberia opened its borders to thousands of Ivorian refugees following the recent conflagration in that country and  Liberia continues  to accommodate many  of these refugees.  Liberia has also provided refuge to Sierra Leoneans and even integrated many as Liberian citizens.

Meanwhile, the Government of Liberia is reminded of recent attacks which witnessed the unfortunate   loss  of lives  of  innocent citizens  and  peacekeepers   of  the  United Nations Operations in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).

To avoid the recurrence of such atrocities along their border and ensure that their citizens live in much-deserved peace and security, Liberia and Cote d'lvoire  have taken steps to improve the relations  of their peoples  along the border including  increasing  their awareness that an attack on either side of their difficult-to-police border produces instability on the other side. 

These self-supported   initiatives, which  recently brought  together  traditional   leaders  and elders  from Liberia  and  Cote d'lvoire,  are  beginning to  yield  fruitful results  by  which neighboring towns  and villages  are consolidating  a sense  of shared security  and common interests.

Even as it conducts these investigations in a speedy manner, and reaffirms its solemn pledge to continue to always act as a good regional neighbor within the boundaries of international law and best practice, the Government of Liberia wishes to renew its request to the international community to assist Liberia in moving refugee camps away from the border so as to remove the ease with which non-state actors and mercenaries continue to go back and forth planning, and sometimes implementing activities inimical to the peace, security and stability of the two countries.