Powell: 'Last, best chance for peace' in Liberia
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Representatives from 24 countries were expected to speak at a U.N. conference on rebuilding Liberia.
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The U.S. has pledged $200 million toward rebuilding Liberia.
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UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell pledged $200 million Friday to start rebuilding Liberia after 14 years of civil war, and urged the world community to help Liberians seize what may be "their last, best chance for peace."
Calling the United States Liberia's "best and oldest friend," Powell told a high-level donors conference that Washington will support international efforts "to build a future of hope" for Liberians.
"This promising moment is not likely to come again, and the people of Liberia need our collective help to seize this moment," he said.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan opened the session with an appeal to international donors for nearly $500 million for Liberia's reconstruction -- and at least $100 million more to meet its immediate humanitarian needs.
"Let us all seize this moment to end this long-running nightmare that has disgraced humankind," he said. "Let us consolidate the peace, and make the peace process irreversible."
Ireland's development minister Thomas Kitt, speaking on behalf of the European Union, echoed Annan's appeal, saying, "We now have a real opportunity to end the agony of Liberia and its people."
The West African nation is trying to rebuild following President Charles Taylor's flight into exile in August, which cleared the way for a power-sharing deal between his government and rebels after 14 years of fighting that claimed more than 150,000 lives. The new government is expected to arrange elections for late 2005 and cede power to a representative government in early 2006.
Speaking on behalf of Liberia, the country's transitional leader, Gyude Bryant, acknowledged that corruption is still rife, but he said efforts were being made to end it.
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14 years of almost continuous civil war has left Liberia's economy in tatters.
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Powell is expected to lobby Security Council members during his New York visit to support a new resolution that would freeze assets against Taylor, his family and associates, a U.N. diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Taylor has been indicted by a U.N.-backed war-crimes court in neighboring Sierra Leone for supporting its vicious rebel movement, the Revolutionary United Front.
The U.N. Security Council in December voted unanimously to maintain sanctions against Liberia, including an arms embargo and a ban on importing Liberian diamonds or timber. It also kept a travel ban on Taylor, who lives in the Nigerian jungle city of Calabar, and other leaders of his government.
Powell, whose plane was delayed for over two hours because of bad weather, pledged U.S. support, telling international donors: "I can assure you of America's strong commitment to work with you as together we help the people of Liberia seize what may well be their last, best chance for peace, prosperity and democracy."
The World Bank and the United Nations estimate that $487.7 million is needed over the next two years to meet Liberia's most urgent reconstruction needs. Andrew Natsios, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, said donors are likely to come up with the money.
Gyude Bryant, head of Liberia's transitional government, said his administration is trying to eliminate corruption.
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But Annan told donors that a U.N. humanitarian appeal for $179 million to help Liberians has been largely unfunded. U.N. officials said only $3 million for emergency humanitarian relief has been donated, along with food aid.
Powell said the U.S. Congress has appropriated $200 million for Liberia's reconstruction. He said the United States has already provided nearly $90 million to address the humanitarian crisis and the plight of refugees, but U.S. officials said this money was not part of the U.N. appeal.
The European Union is also expected to pledge about $200 million, an EU official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Additional pledges were expected from French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, senior officials from Japan, Sweden and Britain, and representatives from about 24 other countries in Asia, Africa and Europe who have signed up to speak.
Copyright 2004 The
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