VP Taylor Extols Out-Going UN Resident Coordinator’s Legacy In Liberia
L-R: President of Liberia, Dr. George Weah; out-going United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Mr. Yacoub El Hillo and Vive President of Liberia, Jewel Howard-Taylor
By Fanta L. Keita
Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has acknowledged the good works of out-going United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Yacoub El Hillo, saying that the UN envoy has left behind “a legacy of true and dedicated service” in support of Liberia and its people.
VP Taylor expressed gratitude on behalf of the People of Liberia to envoy El Hillo for being “a real partner” to Liberia.
She recounted the many programs and interventions made by the out-going UN Resident Coordinator, including the UN’s support to the Government’s Pro-poor Agenda for Propensity and Development.
VP Taylor made the commendation on Tuesday at her Capitol Building office in Monrovia when received in audience the departing United Nations envoy.
Meanwhile, Ambassador El Hillo has said that Liberia has made tremendous progress over the last decade in peace-building initiatives, making specific reference to the much-publicized June 7 protest and how it was peacefully resolved.
El Hillo observed that the country has also registered progress, as she has now moved from a recipient country of peacekeepers to a recognized donor country of peacekeepers, pointing to the ongoing peace keeping mission in Mali where Liberia is contributing troops.
He said Liberia is on the right trajectory while acknowledging that the country has assumed a far better position within the comity of nations.
El Hillo is being reassigned as Deputy UN Representative in Libya, where he will also serve as United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator.
He succeeds Maria do Valle Ribeiro of Ireland, to whom the Secretary-General expressed gratitude for her outstanding contribution and dedicated service in supporting the implementation of the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and coordinating the activities of the United Nations system in Libya.
Recently, outgoing El Hillo was instrumental in mediating alongside ECOWAS, AU and other international bodies to bring the Council of Patriots and the Government together to ensure a peaceful protest on June 7.
