Foreign Minister, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah on Wednesday, March 22, held talks in Washington D.C. with the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Madam Molly Phee.
The meeting between the United States and Liberian Officials, which took place at the U.S. State Department, focused on ways to strengthen democracy – with emphasis on the upcoming elections, as well as issues of good governance and respect for fundamental human rights.
Other areas of focus during the meeting were Liberia’s strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in its war with Russia and the Weah-Administration’s admonition to regional leaders – ECOWAS to respect constitutional term limits and democratic order; as well as Liberia’s welcoming stance on the global front in support of human rights.
Foreign Minister Kemayah was accompanied at the meeting by the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) Commissioner General, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Information Minister Ledgerhood Julius Rennie, and the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Liberian Embassy in Washington D.C., Isaac C. Yeah.
While U. S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Madam Phee was accompanied by Mr. Brian Neubert, United States Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and Director of the Office of West African Affairs and Madam Caroline Dow, Liberia Desk Officer at the United States Department of State.
During the talks, Foreign Minister Kemayah informed U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee of President George M. Weah’s unflinching practical commitment to ensure the conduct of a free, fair, transparent, peaceful, credible and inclusive electoral process for the ensuing October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections; aimed at the consolidation of Liberia’s democracy.
Ambassador Kemayah, according to dispatch told the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee and other U.S Officials in attendance, the importance President Weah and his Government place on further strengthening partnership with the U.S especially building on the irreversible gains of their longstanding strong traditional and bilateral ties as Liberia moves towards Presidential and Legislative elections in October 2023.
Foreign Minister Kemayah said this will further boost President Weah and the Liberian Government’s relentless desire to ensure that October 10, 2023, the electoral process is free, fair, transparent, peaceful, inclusive and credible, aimed at meeting international standards and best practices.
He added that efforts are afoot through a multilateral mechanism, involving the United Nations, ECOWAS, United States, European Union, United Kingdom and the rest of the Diplomatic Corps in Liberia for the Political Parties in Liberia to commit themselves to ensure a violent- free electoral process through the signing of a “Peace and Unity Accord”, pledging a non-violent electoral process, and respect for the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative Electoral Process.
On the international front with a focus on the Russian-Ukraine Conflict, Minister Kemayah reiterated Liberia’s unflinching commitment and support for the position of the U.S, which backs Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to defend itself against Russia’s “unprovoked” aggression.
Amb. Kemayah assured the United States Officials that Liberia will continue to remain engaged with its “brothers and sisters” in Ukraine and the international coalition for a peaceful solution to the ongoing unprovoked agression in Ukraine.
The United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Molly Phee welcomed Foreign Minister Kemayah and Delegation to the U. S. Department of State, informing that it was a pleasure and opportunity to receive Ambassador Kemayah, and for them to meet on further strengthening the longstanding bilateral and traditional ties subsisting between the United States and Liberia.
Madam Phee expressed commendation for Liberia’s support for the Candidacy of Madam Amy E. Pope; and for Liberia’s efforts and role along with ECOWAS and the Mano River Union, aimed at the restoration of constitutional order and democracy in Mali and Burkina Faso, and particularly, in the Republic of Guinea, and for the reform initiatives being undertaken at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; including, but not limited to the recently launched Revised Honorary Consul Regulations.
She added that President Joe Biden was pleased to see and welcomed President George Weah and Foreign Minister Kemayah at the White House on December 14, 2022, stressing that it was a Special Meeting with President Biden on the margins of the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit.
