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INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MONROVIA 000164 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KDEM LI
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SIRLEAF DELIVERS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO LEGISLATURE 
 
REF: (A.) 09 MONROVIA 802; (B.) 10 MONROVIA 95; (C.) 10 MONROVIA 97 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY.  President Sirleaf delivered her fifth annual 
message to the National Legislature on January 25.  In it she 
highlighted legislation needed to continue national recovery, and 
discussed her administration's accomplishments, challenges and 
plans according to the pillars of the national Poverty Reduction 
Strategy (PRS).  Significantly, she cautioned Liberians about the 
challenges ahead, vowed to intensify her fight against corruption, 
recognized the country's lingering economic problems, and promised 
continued infrastructure expansion, especially in terms of access 
to roads, water and electricity.  Sirleaf, in a deviation from her 
scripted speech, offered a way forward on dealing with 
recommendations detailed in the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation 
Commission's (TRC) final report and concluded her address by 
announcing her intent to run for re-election in 2011 (Ref B).  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
¶2. (U) President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf delivered a condensed 
34-page version of her fifth annual message to a joint assembly of 
Liberia's National Legislature on January 25.  (A longer 85-page 
version, she told legislators, would be uploaded to her office's 
website.)  The first part of the speech closely mirrored the goals 
outlined in the GOL's Poverty Reduction Strategy and Sirleaf 
emphasized her administration's successes and shortcomings 
according to the PRS' four pillars:  (1) peace and security, (2) 
economic revitalization, (3) good governance and the rule of law, 
and (4) infrastructure and basic social services.  The president 
also touched on Liberia's relations with international partners. 
 
 
 
¶3. (U) In a deviation from the version of her speech prepared for 
delivery, Sirleaf offered her recommendations on how the GOL should 
respond to the final TRC reports recommendations.  Then, in an 
unexpected move, the president, concluded the address by announcing 
her intent to run for re-election (Ref B). 
 
 
 
MESSAGE STARTS BY MIRRORING POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY GOALS 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
 
 
¶4. (U) LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:  Sirleaf first highlighted the previous 
year's legislative achievements (Ref A), then followed with a list 
of legislation still under consideration that she views as key to 
continuing Liberia's "national renewal."  Achievements include: the 
Public Financial Management Act, amendments to the National 
Commission on Human Rights Act of 2005, and acts establishing the 
National Airport Authority, Land Commission, and National Transit 
Authority.  The president then noted legislation to be put forward 
in 2010, including:  the National Security and Intelligence Reform 
Act, an act amending the public procurement and concessions 
process, and key concession agreements and forestry management 
contracts.  She also warned that, in its current form, the 
recently-passed Threshold Bill (Ref A) carried fiscal consequences 
that might "threaten the development [that Liberia] worked hard to 
promote."  [NOTE.  The bill would increase the number of seats in 
Liberia's House of Representatives at a cost of up to USD 6 
million.  END NOTE.] 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) PEACE AND SECURITY:  Sirleaf accompanied a description of 
the progress made in the restructuring and expansion of Liberia's 
security forces, with a call for Liberians to take more 
responsibility for their country's security as it looks to a 
continued drawdown of UNMIL forces.  She noted that the Armed 
Forces of Liberia, National Coast Guard, Liberia National Police 
Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and Special Security Service (SSS) 
were all strengthened in 2009, while recognizing that the 
presidential SSS suffered from occasional aggressive "lapses."  She 
said that the LNP Police Support Unit would be expanded to 600 
officers by the end of the year.  The National Commission on 
Disarmament, Demobilization, Resettlement and Reintegration, she 
continued, will wind down activities in mid-2010 after assisting 
over 7,000 ex-combatants. 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION:  The president lauded her 
 
MONROVIA 00000164  002 OF 003 
 
 
government's economic revitalization efforts since its inauguration 
in January 2006, but acknowledged the effect of the global 
financial crunch in 2009.  Even so, she emphasized that her 
government is doing everything possible to reach the Highly 
Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) completion point in mid-2010.  Sirleaf 
further highlighted that the GOL achieved a revenue surplus in 2009 
amounting to USD 6.8 million fueled by a rigid internal tax revenue 
regime.  She noted that her government is currently experiencing a 
budgetary shortfall, which continues to challenge her development 
and poverty reduction agenda.  While several mineral development 
and agricultural concession agreements signed in 2009 contributed 
to the increase in revenue collection, she acknowledged that these 
contracts have not yet yielded the jobs she expected.  All aspects 
of the economy, however, in her view, continue to grow remarkably. 
 
 
 
¶7. (U) President Sirleaf acknowledged that agricultural growth is 
more effective in reducing poverty than any other sector.  As a 
result of the GOL's "Back to the Soil" program, production of local 
agricultural products has grown significantly.  The rubber sector 
experienced low production in 2009 while the cocoa and coffee 
sectors are being revitalized, but roads and bridges are being 
constructed to strengthen the country's agricultural sector.  Rice 
and oil palm production, she said, would be significantly stepped 
up in 2010.  Sirleaf also pushed for greater centralized control of 
economic development by urging that County Development Funds be 
managed by the executive branch through the county superintendents. 
However, she encouraged county legislative caucuses to exercise 
their oversight responsibility to ensure the expenditure of funds 
in a transparent manner. 
 
 
 
¶8. (U) GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF LAW:  Sirleaf characterized 
corruption as one of the defining challenges for Liberia, lamenting 
that the actions of officials, including those close to her, 
undermine her credibility and that of the country.  She emphasized 
that her government is committed to delivering an improved system 
of governance that is more localized and responsive to the needs 
and aspirations of citizens.  The president acknowledged the lack 
of adequate capacity in the judicial system, which has sometimes 
proved less effective in her anti-corruption drive, but vowed to 
intensify her fight against corruption in 2010.  Sirleaf noted the 
creation of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission in 2009 and the 
passage of the Whistle Blower Act as steps to enhance the GOL good 
governance policy.  President Sirleaf also hailed the establishment 
of the Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. 
 
 
 
¶9. (U) INFRASTRUCTURE AND BASIC SOCIAL SERVICES:  President Sirleaf 
said that rebuilding the physical and social infrastructure 
destroyed because of the Liberian civil war remains a central focus 
of her government.  In 2009, she said, rehabilitation of 380 miles 
of roadway in 12 counties was completed.  The Ministry of Public 
Works installed nine Bailey bridges and 223 road safety signs, and 
rehabilitated 12 public buildings. In 2010, the government will 
continue to expand its restoration of water and electricity to most 
parts of Monrovia. The government is working on ways to finance the 
restoration of the Mount Coffee Hydroelectric Power Plant and, in a 
seemingly direct address to donors, she called it "the most 
efficient way to provide electricity to Liberia." 
 
 
 
¶10. (U) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:  Monrovia, Sirleaf said, hosts 18 
diplomatic missions of partner countries and she thanked donors for 
providing USD 534 million in assistance in 2009, but, adopting a 
gently scolding tone, noted that only 17 percent of those funds 
went to direct budget support.  She said that the guiding 
principles of Liberia's foreign policy remain unchanged.  Her 
government will continue to promote peace, development and 
cooperation amongst nations of the world. 
 
 
 
PLANNED DEVIATIONS FROM THE SCRIPTED VERSION? 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶11. (U) TRC REPORT:  The TRC Report has been the most significant 
source of debate in Liberia since its June 2009 release; President 
Sirleaf was listed among those recommended in the report for a 
30-year ban from public office (Ref B).  Sirleaf praised the report 
and said that its recommendations would "heal, reconcile, restore, 
 
MONROVIA 00000164  003 OF 003 
 
 
and build peace, prosperity and the progress of our nation."  She 
then pressed Liberians to carefully digest the report and make a 
conscious national determination to move ahead "cautiously and 
strategically" in the implementation of the recommendations. 
 
 
 
¶12. (U) The President further urged the Senate to confirm those 
persons nominated to the Independent National Human Rights 
Commission (INHCR) so they can begin working.  She then proposed 
amendments to the INHRC Act of 2005 to enable that body to work in 
collaboration with the Ministry of Justice to determine which 
recommendations are implementable or enforceable under the 
constitution and laws of Liberia.  Sirleaf underscored that the two 
TRC's proposals on national "Palaver Hut" reconciliation programs 
and reparations are true measures for reconciliation and committed 
herself to working with the Legislature to determine the processes 
and identify the resources for implementation of these two 
recommendations. 
 
 
 
¶13. (U) In a final unexpected turn, the president announced her 
intent to run for re-election in 2011, despite a 2005 campaign 
promise to seek only one term (Ref B).  This final statement drew a 
rousing response from nearly all legislators present. 
 
 
 
COMMENT 
 
------- 
 
 
 
¶14. (SBU) Since January 25, the public debate on whether or not 
Sirleaf should run for re-election and on her suggestions for a 
response to the TRC's recommendations has overshadowed and largely 
muted any strong reaction to the speech.  Opposition responses to 
the first part of Sirleaf's speech addressing PRS successes and 
challenges, and only began to appear in the press after one week. 
Commentators instead continue to focus almost wholly on the 
president's re-election announcement.  Sirleaf's annual, 
constitutionally-required presentation has been overshadowed by an 
apparent unofficial kickoff of campaigning for the 2011 vote. 
Pre-election stumping could prevent much-needed collaboration 
between the president and legislature and hinder Liberia's recovery 
in 2010. 
 
 
 
¶15. (U) The full collection of President Sirleaf's annual messages 
and an expanded version of the 2010 address are available online 
at:  http://www.emansion.gov.lr/ under the "Speeches" tab. 
ROBINSON