Ambassador Stevens presents Letters of Credence in Switzerland
On Tuesday 29th June 2010, H.E. Excellency Ambassador Jongopie Siaka Stevens presented his Letters of Credence to the President of the Swiss Confederation, Her Excellency Mrs. Doris Leuthard (in photo).
On arrival at the West Wing of the Federal Palace in Bern, Switzerland, Ambassador Stevens was received by the Head of Protocol, Ambassador Lorenzo Schnyder who presented him to the President of the Swiss Confederation.
Ambassador Stevens presented his Letters of Credence to the Her Excellency Mrs. Doris Leuthard and conveyed fraternal greetings from the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.
After accepting his Letters of Credence, the Swiss President and the Ambassador held discussions which bordered on the existing cordial relations between Switzerland and Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Stevens conveyed the appreciation of the Government and People of Sierra Leone to the Swiss Confederation, for the invaluable humanitarian aid interventions during the war in collaboration with the International Confederation of the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. He also thanked the Swiss Confederation for its contribution towards the establishment of the Sierra Leone Special Court.
Ambassador Stevens went on to inform the President of the Swiss Confederation that under the dynamic leadership of His Excellency President Koroma, Sierra Leone has continued to maintain peace and political stability with her borders. Ambassador Stevens informed that President Koroma on his assumption of office promised the people of Sierra Leone that he would improve  the energy generation in Sierra Leone and to this end, the first phase of the Bumbuna Hydro Electric Dam has been completed and the capital, now enjoys a reasonable supply of electricity.
He also informed his host that Sierra Leone before and after attaining independent status, was renowned for its high level of education and sound economy.   He recalled that Sierra Leone was an exporter of rice in the sixties and seventies but due to various factors subsequent rice yields depreciated and the country became an importer of rice. He said that President Koroma was committed to reverse the situation by developing infrastructure and introducing modern technology in the agriculture sector.
He emphasized that in achieving these goals, Sierra Leone would welcome and appreciate meaningful partnership with Switzerland.
Replying, Her Excellency Mrs. Doris Leuthard informed Ambassador Stevens that her Government was pleased to have made a contribution towards the sustainability of peace in Sierra Leone through its contribution towards the establishment of the UN Special Court which was set up to bring to justice those found to be perpetrators of the atrocities committed during the rebel war.
She said that Switzerland will continue to support least developed countries like Sierra Leone through the World Bank, international financial institutions and the Swiss Development Agency, which has its regional office in Monrovia, Liberia.
He assured Ambassador Stevens of Switzerland’s support and wished him a successful tour of duty.
Earlier, on Monday 28th June 2010, Ambassador Jongopie Siaka Stevens paid courtesy calls on the Head of Protocol, Ambassador Lorenzo Schnyder von Wartensee and the Senior Regional Coordinator, Mr. Urs Beer respectively, at the West Wing of the Federal Palace. Â During his meetings with them, they discussed issues relating to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.
His Excellency Ambassador Jongopie Stevens was accompanied to all of these meetings by Ms Crispina Wright, Minister Counsellor and Head of Chancery of the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Berlin, Germany.
Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2010, https:. All rights reserved.
