Former British Premier Arrives Today

MONROVIA – The former Prime Minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair, is expected to arrive in Liberia today at the head of an eight-member delegation for a two-day visit.

Blair is expected to share President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s ambition to ‘Lift Liberia’ and transform the country as envisioned in the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).

This is his first visit to Liberia.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, Blair will hold bilateral discussions with some Cabinet ministers and officials of Government, including Samuel K. Woods, Minister of Public Works; Dr. Florence Chenoweth, Minister of Agriculture; Amara Konneh, Minister for Planning and Economic Affairs; Edward McClain, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs; and Morris Saytumah, Minister of State for Legal Affairs, amongst others.

The release further stated that while in the country, Blair will hold a brief meeting with President Sirleaf at her Foreign Ministry offices. He will also hold discussions with Vice President, Joseph N. Boakai, and House Speaker, Alex Tyler.

During the visit, the visiting diplomat will launch a new project between his Africa Governance Initiative and Sirleaf’s administration, and will also hold a session with Cabinet ministers and officials of government at the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“President Johnson Sirleaf is rightly regarded as one of Africa’s greatest leaders, and I am pleased to be working with her,” the release quoted the former British Prime Minister as saying.

The progress being achieved in Liberia is remarkable and a testament to the resolve of the Liberian people, he added.

Blair noted that stability has been restored, political and civil freedoms have been established for all Liberians, the public administration is being rebuilt and roads are under construction to the incredible heartening for any friend of Liberia.

At the end of the two-day visit, Sirleaf and Blair will hold a joint press conference in the foyer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Capitol Hill.