Visits With Presidents Wade And Obasanjo
(Press Release Issued by the Coordinating Committee, Liberian Leadership Forum)
The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, and the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, respectively, received in audience a three-member delegation each of the Liberian Leadership Forum in Dakar on August 13, and in Abuja on August 18, 2002. The delegation comprised Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, leader of the Unity Party, Sheikh Kafumba Konneh, Vice Chairman of the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia, both of the Forum Resource Group, Mr. Dusty Wolokolie - for the Dakar visit, and Ms. Vivienne T. Wreh - for the Abuja visit - both members of the Forum Coordinating Committee. The delegation to Senegal met separately with Dr. Chambas, who was also visiting Dakar.
During these meetings, the delegations briefed the Heads of State and the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS on the outcome of the Ouagadougou meeting, and its two predecessors - the Abuja Meeting and the Bethesda Conference; and requested their support for the Ouagadougou Declaration, with a particular request for them to play key roles for the proposed International Contact Group for peace in Liberia.
In their respective responses, Presidents Wade and Obasanjo spoke very candidly about the deteriorating situation in Liberia and its impact on the Liberian People and on the social economic development in the sub-region.
They expressed support for the Ouagadougou Declaration and undertook to carry out appropriate consultations for organizing the Contact Group. They were confident that the restoration of peace would end the suffering of the Liberian people and enhance the country’s political and economic development process.