• A delegation of the Advisory Board of Irish Aid held a meeting with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at her Foreign Ministry Office in Monrovia. During the meeting, President Sirleaf lauded Ireland for its continuous interest and support of Liberia’s development agenda. Photo: Adama B. Thompson/Executive Mansion

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says the partnership between Liberia and its bilateral partners is crucial to national recovery. Speaking Wednesday during a meeting with a nine- member Advisory Board of Irish Aid, the President lauded Ireland for its continuous interest and support to Liberia’s development agenda.

An Executive Mansion release says the Liberian President spoke of the need for the setting up of an Irish Aid permanent office in Liberia to increase the level of interaction that would ensure the active participation of the Irish government in Liberia's development agenda.

The Liberian leader pointed out that the country’s needs are profound across the various sectors of the country, a factor which presents a challenge for a Government which must respond to the needs all sectors of society. Despite the challenges, the President said, the overriding objective of Government is to ensure that the national interest is protected.

Speaking on the country’s land ownership problems, the Liberian leader informed the Board that the World Bank is supporting the country’s Governance Commission to conduct a case study of other countries which were able to solve similar problems.

Speaking earlier, the head of the delegation of the Irish Aid Advisory Board, former Irish Foreign Minister Mr. David Andrews, congratulated the President for the progress made by her Government thus far.

Mr. Andrews said the visit is intended to conduct a first hand assessment of the situation in Liberia. The Advisory Board of Irish Aid, he disclosed, has agreed to set up a permanent mission in Liberia.