21 May 2012

LIBERIA / SECURITY COUNCIL VISIT

On their current five-day mission to West Africa, the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council met with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and members of her cabinet over the weekend. UNMIL

Posted at: May 21, 2012 1:21 pm

Duration: 02:37

Available in: SD

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STORY: LIBERIA / SECURITY COUNCIL VISIT
TRT:  2:42
SOURCE: UNMIL
RESTRICTIONS:  NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE:  19 MAY 2012, MONROVIA, LIBERIA

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, members of the Security Council at the start of the briefing
2. Med shot, Security Council Co-Chair, Ambassador Susan Rice
3. Med shot, Security Council Co-Chair, Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki
4. Wide shot, President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Security Council Co-Chairs, Ambassador Susan Rice and Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia:  
"I'd like to say a big welcome to the two Co-chairs and to the members of the Security Council delegation. We're just delighted they have included Liberia on this visit…the purpose to assess where we are in terms of the support we are receiving from the United Nations particularly from the peace keeping force through UNMIL, to be able to see how our own development has progressed, to understand some of our challenges, and we've outlined them. Challenges relating to youth, to infrastructure, to reconciliation." 
6. Wide shot, news reports with camera in foreground
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Susan Rice, Security Council Co-Chair:
"We just had a truly excellent meeting with the president and her ministers, and we took that opportunity to commend the citizens of Liberia, and the President and her team, for the peaceful election that just occurred in November.  And we applaud the people of Liberia for the conduct of that in a free and fair fashion. And we applaud the president and her team for the work they are doing, particularly in inaugurating such an ambitious national development and economic agenda along with many other aspects of the agenda."
8. Med shot, Security Council Co-Chair, Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Susan Rice, Security Council Co-Chair:  
"We certainly look forward to the additional steps that the government intends to take to develop the skills and job prospects of young people who have been affected by war and are seeking skills and employment or viable livelihoods."
10.  Med shot, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
11.  SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki, Security Council Co-Chair:  
"We are extremely proud of what Liberia is achieving and we are optimistic about the future of this country not only to stabilize, but to have a prosperous future."
12.  Wide shot, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Security Council Co-Chairs, Ambassadors Susan Rice and Mohammed Loulichki photo op
13. Wide shot, Security Council members and President Sirleaf being photographed
14. Med shot, President Sirleaf greeting Security Council members

STORYLINE:
On their current five-day mission to West Africa, the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council over the weekend met with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and members of her cabinet.

The delegation, co-chaired by United States Ambassador Susan Rice and Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki of Morocco, visited Liberia to review progress in the implementation of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

SOUNDBITE (English) Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia:  
"I'd like to say a big welcome to the two co-chairs and to the members of the Security Council delegation. We're just delighted they have included Liberia on this visit…the purpose to assess where we are in terms of the support we are receiving from the United Nations particularly from the peace keeping force through UNMIL, to be able to see how our own development has progressed, to understand some of our challenges, and we've outlined them. Challenges relating to youth, to infrastructure, to reconciliation."

Ambassador Rice commended the Liberian people and the Government for conducting free, fair and transparent elections.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Susan Rice, Security Council Co-Chair:
"We just had a truly excellent meeting with the president and her ministers, and we took that opportunity to commend the citizens of Liberia, and the President and her team, for the peaceful election that just occurred in November.  And we applaud the people of Liberia for the conduct of that in a free and fair fashion. And we applaud the president and her team for the work they are doing, particularly in inaugurating such an ambitious national development and economic agenda along with many other aspects of the agenda."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Susan Rice, Security Council Co-Chair:  
"We certainly look forward to the additional steps that the government intends to take to develop the skills and job prospects of young people who have been affected by war and are seeking skills and employment or viable livelihoods."

Ambassador Loulichki said the three African members of the Security Council were extremely proud of what Liberia is achieving and optimistic about its future.
 
SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki, Security Council Co-Chair:  
"We are extremely proud of what Liberia is achieving and we are optimistic about the future of this country not only to stabilize, but to have a prosperous future."

On Sunday, the delegation went on to meet with various stakeholders, including Liberian security and rule of law representatives as well as civil society organizations.

This week the Ambassadors are scheduled to visit Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone, and meet with Ivoirian refugees in Liberia, before returning to New York on Thursday (24 May).