UNDP commends Taylor's commitment to peace

Liberians and the international community expect to see "peace becoming a stronger reality every day" in Liberia, according to a senior UNDP official.

Speaking at a news conference during a two-day visit to Monrovia earlier this week UNDP Associate Administrator Zephirin Diabre commended President Charles Taylor and the Liberian government for their "strong commitment to peace and security in the country and the subregion", according to a UNDP source in Monrovia.

During a meeting with Taylor, UNDP was "highly commended by the President for the relevance and quality of assistance it is providing for Liberia's reconstruction and recovery efforts," the source told IRIN.

Diabre said UNDP was ready to advocate that countries emerging from conflict such as Liberia should be given special treatment with regard to debt forgiveness, according to the source. He said donors were keen on the efficient management of resources provided and on accountability and transparency and called for patience as good governance is a "process that cannot be achieved in one day", the source added.

Diabre was part of a mission which included senior representatives from the World Bank and UNHCR. Other countries on the mission's itinerary included Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Star radio in Monrovia quoted the World Bank's vice president for External Affairs, Mats Karlssen, as saying that the delegation was in the country to further discuss ways of ending monopoly and fighting corruption in government.