Sweden Pledges to Wipe Out $12M Owed by Liberia as Sirleaf Wraps Two-Day Visit 11/28/07 - Executive Mansion Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt with Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf The Government of Sweden has pledged its commitment to Liberia’s long term development. The pledge was made Tuesday by Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt after concluding bilateral talks with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Prime Minister Reinfeldt announced his government’s decision to cancel all of Liberia’s bilateral debt. The gesture, he said shows his country’s desire for the country’s development over the next few years. Liberia’s bilateral debt with Sweden stands at about 12 million United States dollars. The Swedish Prime Minister also disclosed his commitment to support Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, stressing that the commission is core to sustaining the country’s young democracy after years of conflict. He further disclosed his government’s support for the country’s Senior Executive Service program which aims to build civil service capacity by repatriating Liberians from the Diaspora. Prime Minister Reinfeldt finally revealed both he and the Liberian leader’s decision to attend the upcoming European Union/African Union (EU/AU) Summit scheduled for Lisbon, Portugal from December 6-9, 2007. For her part, President Johnson-Sirleaf expressed her delight that the economic programs, which she emphasized have been the at the center of her government’s development agenda, have been recognized by Sweden. The President said she was happy to see that Sweden sees Liberia as a partner by placing the country on its focus group of countries. She further pledged to consolidate the progress made by her government thus far. Speaking on the upcoming EU/AU Summit, the Liberian leader said issues to be discussed at the Summit should exceed any one country, person or leader. In another development, the Swedish Trade Council Tuesday announced its decision to send a Trade and Investment Mission to Liberia in 2008. The Council made the disclosure after lengthy discussions with President Johnson-Sirleaf and entourage earlier Tuesday. The Liberian leader and Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Managing Director Hon. John Woods, who gave an in-depth analysis of Liberia’s forestry sector, challenged the Swedish business community to exploit the similarities both countries enjoy in the sector. President Johnson-Sirleaf also addressed the Swedish Parliament when she delivered a paper on the ‘Challenges of Post-Conflict Development’. President Johnson-Sirleaf and entourage have ended their two-day state visit to the Kingdom of Sweden and are scheduled to return home Wednesday.