UNMIL spent US$8bn on peace mission

The United Nations Mission here spent about USD 8 billion on its operations for the past 13-years it kept the peace in Liberia, House Speaker James Emmanuel Nuquay told Legislative reporters on Monday November 14.

Speaker Nuquay said the amount includes; logistics, deployment of security officers, maintenance of civilian personnel and full operations of the international peacekeepers throughout the country during the years.
Briefing reporters in the conference room of the Capitol Building, following a curtsey visit of the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. FaridZarif, Speaker Nuquay said the UNMIL boss expressed full wiliness to work with his administration in maintaining the peace, having a smooth and democratic transition comes 2018.
UNMIL began operations here since 2003, following the exiled of convicted former President Charles Taylor. The UN Mission had been in charge of security including the restructured Armed Forces of Liberia, the Liberian National Police and other government institutions.
Speaker Nuquay further informed the reporters that the UNMIL expressed worried over the recent infighting that engulfed the House of Representative, a situation that saw him (Nuquay) being elected speaker.
But they were satisfied that finally the matter was resolved and that the Liberian Legislature is now on its right footing by moving the country forward.
He explained that SRSG Zarif also expressed his impression of how things are coming back to normal especially commencing with the a legislative retreat which was attended by 61 members of the 73 and the acceptance of theappealed from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for them (lawmakers) to return to the Capitol Building to ensure that some economic instruments are enacted into law.
Briefing the press furthered, Nuquay told the media, that SRG Zarif expressed interest in the passage of the land and local government legislations currently before the house for possible passage.
The UNMIL boss said that the land and local government legislations are of key interest to the United Nations and those bills are strategic in the maintenance of peace and tranquility.
Commenting on the speculations that there is an oil deal bill before the House for possible passage during its special sitting, Speaker Nuquay responded saying theHouse does not have anything that lookslike oil deal bill. Instead, the president submitted the full listing of those instruments that she wants pass.-Edited by Othello B. Garblah