International Contact Group on Liberia

The International Contact Group on Liberia held its 7^th Working Session at the United States Department of State in Washington on September 17, 2004.

Attendees included representatives of France, Morocco, Nigeria, United Kingdom, United States of America, the European Union (the EU Presidency and the European Commission), the United Nations, African Union and the ECOWAS Secretariat attended. The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, MP, representing the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Mr. Hans Dahlgren, representing the Presidency of the EU.

The Contact Group discussions addressed:

• Progress made in the implementation of the two initial phases of the Disarmament and Demobilization program.
• The World Bank review meeting to identify bottlenecks in the flow of resources pledged at the International Conference on Reconstruction for Liberia of 5-6 February 2004.
• Implementation of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
• The issue of timber sanctions.
• Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
• Need for democratic and economic reforms to be undertaken throughout the West Africa Region.
• Extending the Contact Group's remit to the Mano River Basin.

2004/1006