The Inquirer
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted January 20, 2004

International donors that are expected to provide technical and financial assistance to the country at next month’s donors conference, have reportedly set a number of conditions for assistance to the country’s reconstruction process.

According to Planning Minister Christian Herbert, who is one of the chief technocrats behind the completion of a comprehensive document on the country’s reconstruction process to be presented to donors at the conference, the donors want to see a total disarmament of all warring factions before any financial assistance to the country.
Mr. Herbert appearing as a live studio guest on Radio Veritas talk show "Topical Issues", said donors have said that they want to see more practical steps taken by Liberians relative to the full implementation of the Accra Peace Agreement as one of the conditions for aid to the country.

The Planning Ministry boss added that donors want to see more concrete actions taken for the return of peace to the country so as to attract more donors aid for the country’s reconstruction process.

The donor conference on Liberia is expected to be held early February this year in Washington DC, the United States of America.

Already, a document covering a reconstruction package for the country has been formulated with the input of various stakeholders such as the warring factions, lawmakers, the cabinet, among others for submission to donors at the conference for assistance to the country.

The document has also been endorsed by the transitional government, which has already assured donors that their assistance will be properly managed and used for its intended purpose with accountability and transparency.
The transitional government through Chairman Bryant has also vowed to meet up with conditions that donors want done for aid to the country.

Meanwhile, reports say government is expected to come out with a figure needed for the country’s reconstruction process.