Washington, D.C. (U.S.A.) - The United States Government has assured Liberia of its continuous support toward Liberia’s development programs.

Addressing the press Tuesday at the State Department in Washington, DC following discussions with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, praised the progress Liberian continues to make under the leadership of President Johnson Sirleaf. The Obama administration, Mrs. Clinton said is impressed with the progress Liberia is making and will continue to support the country.

An Executive Mansion dispatch from Washington says, Mrs. Clinton recounting United States’ support towards Liberia’s recovery, congratulating the Liberian President for the recent progress to relieve Liberia of its debt burden when the World Bank slashed more than US $1-billion of the country’s commercial debt. Mrs. Clinton said the United States was instrumental in the process and promised that U.S. Government will go beyond the debt clearance by canceling a hundred percent of the debt Liberia owes the United States when the country reaches the Completion Point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPIC).

Responding, President Johnson Sirleaf thanked the US Secretary of State for the support the United States Government continues to give Liberia. The President spoke of her Government’s development programs aimed at addressing the economic situation in the country.  Liberia, the President said, will continue to count on the support of the U.S. Government to achieve its development objectives.

The Liberian leader assured the United States Government that her Government will continue to adopt policies of transparency and accountability to ensure that the resources of the country are used for the benefit of its citizens.

Tuesday’s meeting at the State Department was attended by Liberia’s Foreign Minister,
Olubanke King-Akerele and Liberia’s ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Nathaniel Barnes.