President Sirleaf Meets President George W. Bush at The White House

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has held talks in Washington with United States President, George W. Bush. The meeting which lasted more than half an hour, was held at the oval office of the White House. The two leaders discussed issues of bilateral relations between the United States and Liberia.

At a Press briefing after the meeting, President Bush thanked the Liberian President for her strong leadership capacity and deep desire to enhance democracy and improve the lives of her fellow Liberians.

The U.S President said debt relief for Liberia is a major part of his administration's agenda, and promised to work towards ensuring that the country’s huge debt burden is settled. He said Liberia's debt relief will form part of the message of the US secretary of the Treasury when he attends the International Monetary Fund meeting this week in Washington.

President Bush also praised the Liberian President’s commitment to universal education and promised that his government will support the education initiatives of government by providing increasing support for the educational sector of the country. “The United States believes that boys and girls get an education not only in America but around the world.”

The U.S. President also expressed concern about the high death rate of young children from malaria, and promised to set up a malaria inititive in Liberia to tackle the problem. Accordingly, President Bush said, a team will be visiting Liberia shortly to establish the malaria initiative throughout the country.

President Bush also announced the return of Peace corps to Liberia shortly to help train Liberians educators. He added that all of these initiatives of her government towards Liberia is because of President Sirleaf's leadership capacity for her people..

For her part, President Sirleaf thanked President Bush for the support his administration continues to render Liberia. The President attributed the steady progress of her government to the support she continues to receive from President and Mrs. Bush, as well the State Department, the National Security Council, the Treasury Department and the United States ambassador in Liberia, Donald Booth.

The Liberian leader also thanked the US President for including the country on the special education initiative that would benefit two other African countries as well as the granting of the Deferred Enforcement Departure to Liberians living in the United States, as they prepare their eventual return.

The President praised the role the US President played in returning the country to peace, adding, “we want to be part of your legacy; we want you to look back and say, when I was there, I helped Liberia to be a success, to come out of the ashes of war, and be a successful economy, that responds to the needs of the people.”

Following theWhitehouse meeting, the President later held talks with the Chairman of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Committee, Nita Lowey. She also held close discussions with second Illinois District Congressmen Jesse Jackson, and Rhode Island Senator Patrick Kennedy, who was instrumental in ensuring an extension in the Temporary Protective Status for Liberians.