The Peacebuilding Commission established a country configuration for Liberia this morning to implement priorities set out by a Security Council mission that visited the country from 16-27 August under the leadership of the United States.
With those priorities contained in a report to be issued shortly, the new configuration initially comprises members of the Peacebuilding Commission?s Organizational Committee under the leadership of Jordan, elected Chair by acclamation.
Addressing the Commission, Liberia?s Permanent Representative said that, although the mandate of the United Nations Mission in her country had just been extended by a year, critical gaps remained in stabilization efforts and the situation was ?still fragile?.
Even so, Liberia was poised to hold its second free elections in 2011, she said, adding that its efforts to stabilize itself would be strengthened by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the Commission, working together on the priorities enumerated by the Security Council. Those priorities included strengthening the rule of law, building national institutions and supporting national reconciliation. Liberia would make every effort to assume both full ownership of the peacebuilding process and full accountability for the conduct of those activities, she emphasized, adding that it would also make every effort to cooperate with its neighbours, and with regional and international organizations.
Jordan?s Permanent Representative said his country would ensure that the priorities identified by the Security Council were fully respected, and that full respect was accorded to Liberian ownership in implementation.
The Liberia configuration is the fourth for the Peacebuilding Commission, established in 2005, the others being Burundi, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau. They are established by the Organizational Committee on the recommendation of the Security Council.
Closing the meeting, Peter Wittig ( Germany), Chair of the Organizational Committee, said the Commission?s engagement with Liberia would begin shortly, adding that both the Liberia configuration and the Commission would remain in close contact with the Security Council regarding continuing developments.
UNMIL was established by the Security Council in 2003 to support the implementation of a ceasefire agreement and the development of a peace process. Other areas of focus for the Mission include support for humanitarian and human rights activities, as well as assistance in security-sector reform, including through national police training and reform of the military.
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