VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMV #0250/01 0561712
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251711Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0079
INFO RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000250 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR AF/W NGAREY AND INR/AA BGRAVES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ECON EFIN EMIN LI
SUBJECT: THIS, TOO, IS LIBERIA: FEBRUARY 25, 2010 
 
REF: 10 MONROVIA 202 
 
¶1. (U) This round-up cable, named after a popular daily feature in 
a local newspaper, covers the following topics: 
 
 
 
--DEATH OF ADOPTED LIBERIAN ELICITS STRONG REACTION 
 
--TSA CONDUCTS FINAL PRE-ASSESSMENT MISSION 
 
--TONY BLAIR ADVISES PRESIDENT'S OFFICE 
 
--NEW HEAD OF FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY APPOINTED 
 
--SPRAYING FOR CONTROL OF MALARIA 
 
--PRIVATE U.S. PHILANTHROPISTS VISIT LIBERIA 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) DEATH OF ADOPTED LIBERIAN ELICITS STRONG REACTION:  News 
reports about the murder of an adopted Liberian girl in California 
by her adoptive parents have provoked a public condemnation of the 
incident by the GOL.  The statement was interesting for having 
included continued support for international adoption in spite of 
this tragedy. Press reports spanned several days, citing outrage 
from the GOL.  The consular section has been working with the 
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) officials since 
September 2009 to review current adoption cases in order to allow 
on-going cases that have been held up to be processed.  Members of 
the GOL's Ad-hoc adoption committee have told conoff that the GOL 
is still committed to inter-country adoptions but that they would 
like more information on how such an unfortunate situation could 
have come about.  In light of this incident they were clear that 
there would be no new cases (those without full and final 
adoptions) approved until the revised law on adoptions is passed 
and implemented. 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) TSA CONDUCTS FINAL PRE-ASSESSMENT MISSION:  The 
Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) ASSIST team visited 
Liberia February 15-18 to provide technical assistance to address 
deficiencies in aviation safety and security in advance of a full 
assessment scheduled for March 22-26.  Next month's assessment will 
determine whether Roberts International Airport can support direct 
flights from the U.S., but TSA continues to find GOL commitment 
lacking. TSA repeatedly urged the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority 
(LCAA) to improve employee screening, produce and disseminate a 
national employees training program and mend holes in the airport's 
perimeter fence over several monthly visits.  TSA observed that the 
LCAA has yet to make any progress on any of these International 
Civil Aviation Organization standards.  All are pre-requisites for 
direct flights. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) TONY BLAIR ADVISES PRESIDENT'S OFFICE:  Former British 
Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Monrovia February 22-23 to launch 
a new African Governance Initiative (AGI) project aimed at building 
capacity in President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's Executive Mansion. 
In a February 23 meeting with Ambassador, Blair explained that the 
AGI assistance to the president's office will focus on limiting 
priorities, and building staff efficiency, organization and 
communication skills.   Blair said the Executive Mansion's 
ostensible "400 priorities" should be limited to four: providing 
electricity, building roads, rebuilding the Port of Monrovia, and 
providing jobs.  Blair told the Ambassador that the Executive 
Mansion had good staff, but they are only one-to-two deep.  Blair's 
foundation will assist staff to better schedule President Sirleaf's 
time, mostly by restricting appointments, but President Sirleaf 
needs to give them more decision-making authority.  Blair and the 
Ambassador agreed that a more proactive communication strategy by 
the GOL, including better use of newspapers and radio stations, is 
an important plank in the strategy.  President Sirleaf will appoint 
presidential advisor Patrick Sendolo to head a "Delivery Unit" to 
work with the Foundation and ensure progress. Funding for this 
assistance will be provided by Blair's foundation and the Soros 
Foundation. 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) NEW HEAD OF FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY APPOINTED: President 
Sirleaf has nominated Manager for Community Forestry Moses Wogbeh 
to replace John Woods as the new Managing Director of the Forestry 
Development Authority (FDA).  Under Woods' leadership, the FDA 
struggled to create a forestry sector that balanced community 
 
rights, sustainable forest management practices, and the need to 
generate revenue from commercial forestry.  Wogbeh's background in 
community forestry and his strong working relationship with the 
U.S. Forest Service through USAID could signal an inclination to 
readjust the balance between commercial forestry and conservation, 
while his 24-year tenure at the FDA and alliance with a static "old 
guard" culture at that agency may prompt him to continue the 
policies of his predecessor.  Wogbeh's nomination is pending 
approval by the National Legislature. 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) SPRAYING FOR CONTROL OF MALARIA:  After an intensive review 
of scientific studies and test results conducted in Liberia, the 
Ministry of Health & Social Welfare (MOHSW) agreed this week with 
the President's Malaria Initiative on the insecticides to be used 
in future household spraying activities.  DDT was considered, but 
the MOHSW agreed with USAID technical team recommendations that the 
class of chemicals known as pyrethroids was the best choice for 
Liberia.  This should allow the indoor residual spray program to 
move ahead with plans to spray 50,000 households in the coming four 
months, enough to protect 300,000 Liberians from malaria-carrying 
mosquitoes. 
 
 
 
¶7. (U) PRIVATE U.S. PHILANTHROPISTS VISIT LIBERIA: 
 
The Ambassador and USAID staff met with two visiting health 
education teams on February 17.  A team from the University of 
Duquesne (PA) is interested in exploring student and faculty 
exchanges to further health education in both countries, and a team 
from Hospitals of Hope is providing technical equipment and other 
services to Liberian hospitals.  The Duquesne group explained that 
a private philanthropist is supporting efforts to bring U.S. health 
care providers to Liberia in exchange for study tours to the 
University Hospital and clinics for promising Liberian students, as 
well as technical expertise to increase lighting, energy efficiency 
and improve safety.  Hospitals of Hope wants to expand its 
assistance and bring badly needed diagnostic and other medical 
equipment to selected Liberian facilities.  The Ambassador 
emphasized the huge need for health technology following the 
destructive civil conflict and the importance of close 
collaboration with the Ministry of Health.  USAID offered its 
network of contacts and technical assessments as contributions to 
their commendable efforts. 
THOMAS-GREENFIELD