Foreign Minister Gayewea McIntosh Commissions Two Ambassadors

(MONROVIA, TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011) The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Toga Gayewea McIntosh has officially commissioned two Liberian Ambassadors on behalf of the President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

His Excellency (H.E.) Mr. Jarjar Kamara was commissioned Liberia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) replacing Mrs. Neh Dukuly Tolbert; while Her Excellency Madam Vivienne T. Wreh has been commissioned Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia replacing Dr. Edward G. Clinton.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the commissioning ceremony took place on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 in the Ministry’s Conference Room.

In remarks before the commissioning, Dr, Gayewea McIntosh praised the two Ambassadors for their excellent performances at their previous posts which he described as excellent and rewarding. He noted that their re-assignment to the Foreign Service is based on their excellent records.

The Foreign Minister expressed confidence that the re-assignment of both Ambassadors to two outstanding Missions (PRC and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia) will enhance government’s development agenda. He said Government is pleased to assign the two officials to explore economic and development opportunities for Liberia, using development diplomacy.

In brief remarks following the commissioning ceremony, Liberia’s Ambassador to the PRC, H.E. Jarjar Kamara promised to promote and cultivate friendship, mutual understanding and political trust between the two countries and peoples to the highest level. “In carrying out my duties of traditional diplomacy, I shall leave no stone unturned in promoting the supreme interest of Government, the Republic of Liberia and Liberian citizens residing within my jurisdiction,” he said.

He pledged to equally strive to uplift the principles of economic and development diplomacy in order to attract foreign investments for sustainable economic development and the establishment of viable business entities that would help curb unemployment and foster infrastructural development initiatives of government.

Ambassador Kamara, who previously served as Liberia’s Ambassador to the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, stressed that Public Diplomacy will also be a major area of concentration where he will promote Liberia’s potential investment opportunities. “I shall continue to promote the foreign policy objectives of our country, which he said includes peaceful co-existence, economic development of Liberia, cooperation among States and the International Community.

He earlier expressed gratitude to the Liberian President for the preferment to represent Liberia as Ambassador to the world’s most populous nation. He said he considers his appointment, not only as a great challenge, but also a serious trust in his ability to ably represent Liberia and all Liberians living in the PRC.

For her part, Liberia’s Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Vivienne Wreh, who has been appointed a Liberian Ambassador for the second time in five years, said the appointment to Addis Ababa is a major step towards her personal and professional fulfillment. She praised President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for her leadership qualities and thanked her for the preferment.

She said, as Ethiopia is the hub for the highest engagements among diplomats and multilateral partners on the African continent, being commissioned as Liberia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the African Union is an auspicious elevation.

However, Ambassador Wreh, who previously served as Liberia’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, made a passionate appeal to Government to appoint more women to Liberia’s Foreign Service.

She said since traditional and diplomatic ties was established between Liberia and Ethiopia in 1959, the relations between both governments have been cordial and fraternal; noting that within the context of the socio-political development of the African continent, Liberia and Ethiopia have featured throughout the decades as the pioneering nations.