Monday, 5th December 2011
Members of the Press:
- Welcome to another Executive Mansion press briefing. Let me begin by informing you that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf leaves the country on Wednesday, December 7, for Norway, to participate in programs marking the official award ceremony of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. The program will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2010, at the Oslo City Hall, commencing at 1:00 p.m. The President will receive the award along with fellow Liberian Mrs. Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni journalist Tawakkul Karman, a women’s rights activist.
As part of the award ceremonies, the President will also attend other events organized by the Nobel Committee, including meetings with the Norwegian Nobel Committee, children, and Norwegian government officials. The President will also meet with the Norwegian Refugee Council and other humanitarian organizations.
- The Stakeholders Consultative Meetings launched by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf continued last week at the C. Cecil Dennis, Jr. Auditorium. The President met, separately, with the Liberian Business Community, the Liberian Christian Council, and the Muslim Community. Meetings are scheduled with other stakeholders, including the youth, students, market women and professional groups.
The meetings are intended to brief stakeholders on the President’s second-term agenda and solicit their input concerning the role their respective organizations can play in the promotion of government programs and policies.
- Discussions are continuing between the leadership of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, aimed at fostering a spirit of reconciliation following the recent legislative and presidential elections. The CDC has submitted proposals to the President for consideration. The proposals are being discussed by committees from both parties, after which recommendations will be made to the President, forming the basis for whatever action the President may take on the CDC proposals.