In a first visit by a senior French official to Liberia in the last 40 years., the French Prime Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean Yves Le Drian is visiting Liberia June 10 – 11.
According to a statement by the French Foreign office copied to African Star on Thursday, the visit of Mr. Le Drian a former Defense Minister, is aimed at strengthening Franco-Liberian relations in the areas of development, the economy, security and the French language.
The French Foreign Minister who held a joint meeting with Liberian Foreign Minister Dee Maxwell Kemayah on Thursday was also expected to meet with President George M. Weah. The French official is also expected to discuss regional issues with the Liberian side and the role the west African country can play in ECOWAS and the African Union (AU).
President Weah two weeks ago joined his ECOWAS counterparts in Ghana to discuss the military coup in Mali and supported a transition to civilian rule. France which has been heavily involved in a joint effort with the Malian military announced shortly after the ECOWAS meeting that it would cease joint military cooperation with the Malian junta in an effort to pressure the military to reverse its take-over of the Government.
The itinerary of Foreign Minister Le Drian include the inauguration of a new Alliance Francaise site in Monrovia to strengthen the promotion of the French language and culture and meet with some Liberian beneficiaries of French development projects in the country.
French companies in Liberia will join in a meeting to discuss strengthening Franco-Liberian economic ties. Since its inauguration, the Weah Administration has been wooing French investments to regenerate the struggling Liberian economy. President Weah has visited France which has promised aid and investments.
Supporters of the Weah Administration are hailing the visit of the French official as a breakthrough in efforts by the Liberian Government attract international investment and aid.
Liberia hosted French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drihan for two days. The first visit of a French minister to Monrovia in 40 years enabled President George Weah to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations.
The two men inaugurated the new French alliance in Monrovia and discussed the possibility of cooperation in matters of security within the framework of a military pact similar to that concluded between France and the Ivory Coast.
“We want to act together, and I know that it is also your concern, against the threats posed by the progression of terrorist groups from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea, and the inauguration near Abidjan of the international academy for the fight against terrorism contributes to these partnership actions, which are essential in the fight against these tragedies “, said Jean-Yves Le Drihan.
The French minister continued his tour in West Africa with a visit to Burkina Faso. He met in Ouagadougou with President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré and offered his country’s condolences after the tragedy experienced by the people of Solhan.
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