Liberian Leadership Forum

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
July 8, 2002

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, conference delegates, observers and other distinguished guests.

My name is Jeffrey Krilla, and I am the Director of the Africa Division and team leader for the International Republican Institute, which is helping to facilitate today's conference of the Liberian Leadership Forum.

I would like to take a moment to introduce my colleagues in the IRI delegation - Ambassador Kenneth Brown who is familiar to many of you here today and served as the United States Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Congo Brazaville, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. Mary Angellini is IRI's Country Director in Abuja, Nigeria and James Viray is IRI's Program Officer for Liberia.

I would like also like to recognize the significant efforts and critical support of the government of Burkina Faso to host this important conference which will help build upon the momentum gained from the ECOWAS sponsored conference in May.

Liberia continues to suffer the results of an extended civil war that destroyed much of the country and tore apart its social fabric. Despite its election in 1997, the Government of Liberia has not shown adequate commitment or capacity to overcome these challenges and to uphold democratic principles. This has led to a severe reduction in international assistance and rapidly decreasing social indicators, including rising poverty and illiteracy. Fighting has also broken out sporadically since 1997 and there is now an armed incursion in the northern part of the country.

UN sanctions imposed on Liberia in response to allegations of support to rebels in neighboring Sierra Leone have placed additional pressure on the government to reform.

In February of this year IRI conducted a joint pre-election assessment of conditions in Liberia with the National Democratic Institute, the International Foundation for Election Systems and the Carter Center. The assessment team found that little foundation as yet exists for the conduct of free and fair elections in October of 2003.

However, there is some hope in that President Taylor has recently announced a number of important proposals which will, if implemented, promote a more credible electoral process, strengthen the democratic system, and provide a basis for broader reconciliation talks. While there is still much room for improvement, these are important signs that the government is prepared to respond to the concerns of its citizens and the international community.

Perhaps most important is that President Taylor has encouraged opposition politicians to return to Liberia - the international community should support this call. The participation of opposition leaders in the political dialogue within Liberia will promote pluralism and build confidence in the electoral process. But President Taylor must create an atmosphere in which these opposition politicians feel safe to return.

Reconciliation activities should continue to be undertaken in earnest to restore faith in the political process and reduce the likelihood that elections will be postponed. The national conference announced by President Taylor is an important venue for dialogue, but it must be strengthened and made more inclusive through a series of preliminary meetings such as this one and structured follow-up implementation activities. These have begun outside Liberia to ensure participation by opposition leaders who still fear for their security in Liberia. Facilitation by ECOWAS and participation by Liberian civil society groups has helped lend balance and credibility to the talks.

However, many significant challenges remain - Civil society organizations are inadequately resourced and better coordination is needed to strengthen their activities, avoid duplication of effort and maximize impact.

Independent media has been severely restricted by the government. This simply cannot be. Commitments by President Taylor to restore Radio Veritas' short wave license and allow STAR Radio to reopen should be welcomed and pursued.

Insecurity in the northern part of Liberia threatens both the election timeline and a return to civil war. The Government of Liberia has said that it is committed to holding elections under any conditions, but has also indicated that elections may be postponed if the current fighting in the north of the country is not resolved. Significant too, abuses by poorly-trained security forces are still all too common throughout the country.

This conference is an important step towards a truly free, democratic Liberia. I am encouraged by the efforts of many of the people in this room that peace, freedom and democracy can be achieved in Liberia. However, peace, freedom and democracy can only be achieved when political parties, civil society, media, the government of Liberia and the international community commits action and to implement the recommendations which will result from this conference.

Thank you.

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