Source: The New Dawn
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is expected to meet U.S. President Barrack Obama at the White House in Washington D.C. this Friday February 27, as both leaders look forward to a stronger cooperation at this critical time.
President Sirleaf's meeting with Obama comes after the U.S. President announced last week, that the United States is moving to the next phase of its Ebola response, which will be characterized by an intensive effort to reach zero Ebola cases in West Africa.
A statement issued by White House Press Secretary Sunday said Obama looks forward to building on a strong and historic partnership with Liberia and discussing a range of topics with President Sirleaf, including the ongoing Ebola response, the region's economic recovery plans, and other issues of mutual interest.
President Sirleaf who departed the country Saturday via the James Spriggs Payne Airport will make a brief stop-over in the Emirate of Sharjah, one of the states of the United Arab Emirates UAE), to share her experience in Crisis Management at the International Government Communication Forum there before travelling to the U.S.A..
A statement issued by the Executive Mansion said, while in the United States, President Sirleaf will also meet with the Administration officials, Congressional leaders and other stakeholders. She will also speak at an event hosted by Democratic Senator Chris Coons and the U.S. Institute of Peace on February 26, 2015.
From Washington D.C. President Sirleaf will also travel to Brussels, Belgium to participate in an Ebola Conference organized by the European Union (EU). The conference will bring together the three most affected Mano River Union countries (Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone) and will see the Liberian President perform the role of Spokesperson for the three countries.
The Brussels Conference, which is not a pledging conference, seeks to enable the affected countries share their experiences and post Ebola thoughts/plans and help aid the EU and other bilateral and multilateral organizations plan better for the post-Ebola period.
From Brussels, President Sirleaf will return to the United States, where she will participate in the 20th anniversary celebration of the Beijing Platform for Action at the UN Headquarters in New York.
President Sirleaf is accompanied to the U.S. by Legal Advisor, Cllr. Seward Cooper; Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh; Information Minister Lewis G. Brown; Presidential Press Secretary Jerolinmek Piah; LBS Director General Ledgerhood Rennie; Executive Assistant Euphemia Brewer-Fasama, among others.
She will also be accompanied to Brussels by Montserrado County Representative Saah Joseph; Youth Advisor, Dr. Emmanuel Dolo; Assistant Health Minister for Preventive and Curative Services, Tolbert Nyenswah, Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), Dr. Clarence Moniba and his Deputy Amos Seibo, among others.
While President Sirleaf is away, Defense Minister Brownie Samukai will chair the Cabinet in consultation with Vice President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai. President Sirleaf is expected to return home on March 13, 2015.