Sierra Leone will continue to support the ICC… Ambassador Sorie
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and Head of Mission to the European Union has said the country will continue to support both the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to curb perpetrators of wars and human rights abusers. (Photo: Ambassador Sorie climbing down the horse driven royal carriage )
Ambassador Ibrahim Sorie made these remarks to both King Alexander Williams of The Netherlands and Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission whilst presenting the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his Letters of Credence to both on Wednesday, October 30 and Monday, November 4 respectively.
The Sierra Leone envoy informed both that his country is a direct beneficiary of international justice through which the country was able to attained peace and those with the greatest responsibilities for those heinous crimes committed during the country’s eleven-year old civil war brought to justice and now behind bars.
“The government and people of Sierra Leone are grateful to the government and people of The Netherlands for not only hosting these two important international courts, but for also accommodating thousands of Sierra Leoneans who fled the country during those dark days of our crisis”, he told the King.
Ambassador Sorie informed both leader’s of his country’s progress so far in the areas of maintaining peace, stability, good governance, human rights, rule of law, women’s empowerment, fight against graft, mining and agriculture, adding that there are positive prospects for Sierra Leone to become an oil producing country in the next two or three years which he hoped will significantly improve the human capital of Sierra Leoneans.
He thanked President Barroso for the European Commission’s indicative envelope of the 11th EDF package which has been increased to 370 million euros in the next seven years and further outlined some of the major contributions of the EU to the country including roads infrastructural development, agriculture, environment, health sector, decentralised service delivery programmes and support to the National Electoral Commission.
Both leaders extend fraternal greetings to the President, government and people of Sierra Leone, emphasising the need for the continent to remain supportive of the efforts of both the ICC and ICJ.
President Barroso added that the European Commission will continue to assist Sierra Leone in all areas including the fight against corruption, the efforts of which he commended the government adding that he looked forward to once again meeting President Koroma in April next year in Brussels.
In a related development, Ambassador Sorie on Tuesday, October 22 also presented his Letters of Credence to Grand Duke Henri of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg where he emphasised the shift in his country’s diplomatic policies from the usual reception or cocktail style of diplomacy to economic diplomacy and reassured the Duke of the continued strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries.
Meanwhile, in a rather solemn mood, the Head of Chancery at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Brussels, Haja Fatmatta Binta Wurie has bid farewell to staff of the Embassy as her tour of duties come to an end. She left Brussels on Tuesday, November 5.
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2013, https:. All rights reserved.