Government appeals for help to rebuild economy

Liberia needs international help to rebuild its war-shattered economy, institutions and infrastructure, Foreign Minister Monie Captan told the 54th UN General Assembly on Saturday. He appealed to donors to honour a pledge to provide US $230 million toward this effort. Captan also said the government’s determination to rejuvenate the economy, engender productive activities, restore social infrastructure and improve living standards would remain elusive without relief from Liberia’s US $3-billion debt. Each Liberian owes US $1,200 in a country where per capita income barely reaches US $275, Captan said, adding, “it may never be possible to fully repay this colossal financial obligation”. According to Captan, an arms embargo the UN Security Council imposed on Liberia in 1992 is no longer necessary because its original aim of containing the war and halting the proliferation of arms has been achieved. “The government reiterates that the continued refusal by the Security Council to lift the arms embargo is a clear infringement upon Liberia’s sovereignty, which the charter of the United Nations defends,” he said. The embargo, he added, has led to insecurity and suspicion, which could breed instability. He noted that since the destruction of 19,297 firearms and 3.2 million rounds of ammunition in Liberia beginning on 25 July, there had been “cross-border aggression” on the country.