ECOWAS mediator arrives Liberia on assessment mission

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - ECOWAS mediator for the Liberian peace process, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, arrived in the Liberian capital Monrovia on Sunday on an assessment mission expected to be dominated by discussions on preparations for national elections scheduled for October 2005.

Under the August 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Accra, Ghana, legislative and presidential elections in Liberia were scheduled for October this year before the interim government hands over authority to an elected government in January 2006.

An ECOWAS statement said General Abubakar told journalists on arrival that the visit will enable him gauge the implementation of the peace agreement, discuss with the stakeholders on preparations for the elections as well as other issues, particularly developments since his last visit in February this year.

He stressed the need for Liberians to continue to work towards the realization of the objectives enshrined in the Accra peace agreement to return their country to durable peace, which will enable the governme nt address development challenges.

The former Nigerian president also reminded Liberians of their responsibility to contribute towards the creation of an atmosphere that will encourage enhanced donor support and enable the country to return to the path of sustainable peace and stability which the country desperately needs.

General Abubakar said that ECOWAS was committed to promotion of transparency, good governance and accountability in the country, an obligation that was reinforced by some provisions in the peace agreement.

During the five-day visit, the Mediator will discuss arrangements for the elections with the electoral commission, problems associated with the resettlement of internally displaced persons and other issues that will facilitate the implementation of the Accra agreement.