UN chief holds talks with Liberian President on corruption, debt and human rights

Liberia’s progress in tackling corruption, boosting human rights and consolidating peace since the end of the civil war in 2003 were the focus of talks today between the country’s President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

In a meeting on the margins of the General Assembly’s high-level segment at UN Headquarters in New York, the two officials also discussed preparations for presidential and parliamentary elections next year in the West African country and reform of Liberia’s justice and security sectors.

Mr. Ban welcomed the long-awaited creation of Liberia’s Independent National Commission on Human Rights and voiced hope it would start work quickly, according to information released by his spokesperson.

He also congratulated Liberia for reaching the completion point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative, in which countries are eligible for special assistance from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In addition, Mr. Ban and the President discussed the future of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which has helped bring stability to Liberia since the end of the brutal civil war.