Ellen Bids Farewell to Cuban Ambassador, Heralds Assistance

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has bid farewell to outgoing Cuban Ambassador to Liberia, His Excellency Mr. Jorge Fernando Lefebre Nicolás. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian President, bidding the Cuban envoy farewell, thanked him, noting that during the period of his service, relationship between Liberia and Cuba has become stronger.

She expressed thanks to the Cuban Government for the many scholarships provided Liberians to study in that country, particularly in the medical area; noting that this will greatly assist in the recovery of the country’s healthcare delivery especially after the Ebola virus disease. President Sirleaf also highlighted Cuba’s generous assistance to the country during the Ebola crisis when they deployed 53 medical personnel to join other international partners in the fight. “Besides, they were deployed to the rural areas where conditions were most challenging during the period,” she said.

The Liberian leader reminded him of a meeting with the Cuban Vice President Miguel Díaz-Canel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia recently where she appealed for additional Cuban medical personnel to beef up the country’s health system. She urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with the Cuban Embassy to determine the requirements needed to achieve the result.

President Sirleaf assured the Cuban envoy that advanced steps have already been taken for the reciprocal accreditation of a Liberian Ambassador to Cuba, which she hoped to consummate shortly. She thanked the outgoing Cuban Ambassador for his service to Liberia and wished him well in his future endeavors.

In remarks earlier, the outgoing Cuban Ambassador, Mr. Nicolás praised the relations between Liberia and Cuba during his tenure. “I’m leaving behind a relationship that is more consolidated than it was six years ago,” he said, noting that there is a need to further strengthen this relationship. The Cuban Ambassador hoped that formalities will be concretized so that his successor will not be resident in Accra, Ghana and concurrently serve Liberia; but will be accredited to Liberian and resident in Monrovia. He stressed that he was very proud that Cuba had the opportunity to assist Liberia during the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease when they sent a medical team to join international partners fight the outbreak.

Ambassador Nicolás assured the Liberian leader that they have begun working with the Ministry of Health in exploring ways to bring a medical team back to Liberia for a two or three year stint to help the country improve its healthcare delivery system. He noted that most of the medical team that came to assist Liberia during the Ebola crisis has expressed willingness to return.

Looking back at the level of development since his arrival a few years back, Ambassador Nicolás praised President Sirleaf for leadership foresight and her tenacity to see Liberia developed. He said he was happy to have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people in Liberia. Also attending the farewell meeting were the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Elias Shoniyin and the Assistant Minister for American Affairs, Mr. Sie Teba-Neufville, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.