By: Staff Writer
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has underscored the compelling need for Liberia to strategically place well-trained and competent personnel in foreign missions in a drive to enhance economic and cultural diplomatic capabilities, and leveraging the skills of people in areas such hospitality, cultural exchange and people-to-people contact.
Liberia must pursue bilateral and multilateral relationships that advance its development goals.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
“In a world of diminishing international aid, we must reset our foreign policy establishment to meet the challenges of shifting global dynamics”, he admonished his officials of government.
President Boakai stressed that Liberia shall continue to remain relevant in international affairs consistent with its campaign for a none permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
He pointed out that the Country goal is to strategically position Liberia within ECOWAS and other sub-regional, regional and international organizations to amplify it voice and leadership while benefiting from collective approaches to shared challenges.
We shall continue to pursue access to international markets and technology transfer to boost Liberia’s agricultural sector and this includes developing partnership for agricultural modernization, establishing food security initiatives through regional cooperation, and creating value-added agricultural export programs.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
Additionally, he assured the gathering that Liberia we will pursue strategic partnerships with advanced farming nations to enhance agricultural productivity and food self-sufficiency.
On the infrastructure front, President Boakai told the gathering that his government intends to develop regional transportation corridors and port facilities while reducing dependence on aids.
“This includes engaging multiple international partners for road development projects, creating integrated transportation networks linking MRU countries, and modernizing port infrastructure to enhance maritime trade capacity”, he noted.
He indicated that the focus among other things is on sustainable infrastructure that supports Liberia’s development goals.
At the same time, he emphasized that Liberia’s Strategic Framework for Regional Security requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses both traditional and emerging security challenges in West Africa.
As a post-conflict nation situated in a complex regional environment, particularly with the ongoing Sahel crisis, and potential spillover effects, Liberia he stressed should develop a must and robust security mechanisms while strengthening regional cooperation.
The framework, the Liberian leader emphasize requires joint border management, intelligence sharing, economic development in vulnerable areas, and coordinated diplomatic engagement to ensure both national security and regional stability.
The strategy recognizes that regional security challenges require collective responses while maintaining sovereign control over territorial integrity, he said.
Moreover, he emphasize high quality education for the people through Systems Modernization, digital communications infrastructure and discipline.
According to him, Well trained diplomats should be able to promote investment opportunities for the nation through Sector-specific investment frameworks to attract targeted development.
He calls for the pursue of Public-private partnership models to leverage additional resources, investment protection mechanisms to provide security for investors, and strategic infrastructure development to support economic integration.
Our foreign service personnel must promote Trade Development through market access agreements, reduce barriers to regional trade, and enforce export promotion programs to support cross-border commerce and trade.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
Liberia’s foreign policy framework, President Boakai maintain requires careful calibration to navigate an increasingly complex global environment while advancing national interest.
He said the implementation of said comprehensive approach to the Country’s foreign policy initiatives through the ARREST Agenda, will enable Liberia to maximize benefits from international cooperation while preserving its fundamental principles of peaceful co-existence and good neighborliness.
Our success requires continued investment in diplomatic infrastructure, strategic positioning on global issues, and careful balance between national interest and international engagement.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
Speaking on the theme: The ARREST Agenda and Liberia’s Foreign Policy Initiatives at the Relaunch of the Ambassadorial Lecture and Seminar Series, President Boakai said Liberia’s actions and diplomatic initiatives were consistent with its foreign policy of extending the hand of friendship in the spirit of good neighborliness.
Liberia’s diplomats he stated vigorously and successfully fought to maintain its independence.
The country was challenged when moves were made for her to be placed under the League of Nations mandate during the Fernando Po Crisis in the 1930s, he said .
“It is no surprise therefore that Liberia together with Ethiopia as the two African members of the League of Nations challenged Apartheid South Africa’s continued rule at the International Court of Justice over Southwest Africa, now independent Namibia”, President Boakai reflected.
Liberia’s diplomacy experienced a defining moment with the election of Madam Angie Brooks Randolph as the first female African President of the United Nations General Assembly in 1969.
Ten years later in 1979, Liberia hosted the 16th OAU Summit in Monrovia which at the time had the highest members of Heads of State and Government in attendance
According to him, Liberia’s history is full of heroic feats of its diplomats working to defend its independence and national existence in a hostile world.
Dr. D. Elwood Dunn aptly describes the period from 1847 to 1947 as the Century of Survival, he told the gathering.
“Liberian diplomats fought to preserve our territorial integrity by negotiating with powerful colonial powers, who had extended themselves into our neighborhood, without a standing army in an era of gunboat diplomacy”, Boakai historicized.
He informed the gathering that his administration’s ARREST Agenda seeks to promote inclusive government and development, leaving no one behind.
“The priority is to increase agricultural production, pursue rule of law, improve education and make it accessible to all and promote sanitation and tourism”, he re-emphasized.
President Boakai stated that while his government is registering progress in some significant areas it is key to admit that his government must redouble its efforts against the constant threat of reversals.
The fight against corruption, rule of law, good healthcare delivery, quality education must be the way forward.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
