LIBERIA: UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SEES ECOMOG OFFICIALS AND REFUGEE CAMP DURING HER VISIT TO ENCOURAGE IMPLEMENTATION OF ABUJA PEACE ACCORD

Record ID: 337737

  • Title: LIBERIA: UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SEES ECOMOG OFFICIALS AND REFUGEE CAMP DURING HER VISIT TO ENCOURAGE IMPLEMENTATION OF ABUJA PEACE ACCORD
  • Date: 17th January 1996
  • Summary: MONROVIA AND CONGO TOWN CAMP, LIBERIA (JANUARY 17, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) MONROVIA 1. GV SOLDIERS WALK PAST ECOMOG TRUCKS 0.10 2. GV ECOMOG LABEL ON BACK OF TRUCK 0.15 3. GV ECOMOG SOLDIER ON DUTY AS ECOMOG OFFICIALS TALK IN ENTRANCE TO ECOMOG HEADQUARTERS 0.23 4. GV PEOPLE WALK ALONG ROAD BEYOND TRUCK 0.30 5. GV PAN OFFICIALS MOTOCADE CARRYING UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONAL MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ARRIVES AT ECOMOG HEADQUARTERS, ALBRIGHT LEAVES VEHICLE AND SHAKES HANDS WITH OFFICIAL 0.50 6. GV ALBRIGHT CLIMBS STEPS INSIDE ECOMOG HEADQUARTERS AND SHAKES HANDS WITH COMMANDER OF ECOMOG FORCES IN LIBERIA, GENERAL JOHN INIENGER 0.59 7. SV ALBRIGHT AND INIENGER SEATED DURING TALKS 1.09 8. GV ALBRIGHT, INIENGER AND OFFICIALS LOOK AT WALL MAP 1.19 9. SV CUTAWAY ECOMOG OFFICIAL 1.27 10. GV ALBRIGHT WATCHES AS INIENGER CALLS OUT NAMES OF LOCATIONS WHICH ECOMOG SOLDIER POINTS TO ON WALL MAP 1.42 11. SV ALBRIGHT AND INIENGER SEATED TOGETHER ON SOFA 1.46 12. SV CUTAWAY JOURNALISTS SEATED AT MEETING 1.54 13. GVS ALBRIGHT LEAVES MEETING AND SAYS GOODBYE TO INIEGNER AND OFFICIAL IN DARK SUIT (2 SHOTS) 2.07 14. GV ALBRIGHT ENTERS OFFICIAL CAR 2.17 CONGO TOWN, NEAR MONROVIA 15. GV OFFICIAL MOTOCADE CARRYING ALBRIGHT DRIVES PAST CAMERA 2.39 16. GV/CU SIGN FOR CONGO TOWN COMMUNITY CLINIC (2 SHOTS) 2.59 17. SV BUILDING IN REFUGEE CAMP 3.12 18. GV REFUGEES WALKING AROUND NEAR BUILDING IN REFUGEE CAMP 3.26 19. CU SIGN READING "U.S. CONGRESS PLEASE HELP SAVE LIBERIA" 3.45 20. CU SIGN READING "MRS MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS HEARTILY WELCOME AT MOH DISPLACED AND REFUGEE SHELTER" 3.55 21. CU SIGN READING "WE ARE CRAVING FOR TOTAL DISARMAMENT, ENCAMPMENT AND REPATRIATION" 4.10 22. GV CHILDREN INSIDE AND NEAR CLOTH HUT WITH SIGN READING "HELP SECURE THE FUTURE LEADERS" PINNED ON IT 4.14 23. CU SIGN READING "HELP SECURE THE FUTURE LEADERS" 4.22 24. GV REFUGEE WOMEN AND CHILDREN INSIDE CAMP 4.29 25. GV REFUGEE CHILDREN POSE FOR CAMERA 4.34 26. CU HANDMADE SIGN READING "WE WANT QUALITY EDUCATION FOR BETTER FUTURE" 4.49 27. SVS REFUGEE MEN SEATED IN ROW IN OPEN TENT (2 SHOTS) 5.10 28. GVS/CU GROUP OF REFUGEES STANDING WITH SMALL BOY HOLDING SIGN READING "WAR DEGRADE MAN TO THE MEANS OF OTHER MAN. THIS LIVE IS DEPLORABLE. U.S CONGRESS PLEASE HELP SAVE US" (4 SHOTS) 5.48 29. SV GROUP OF REGUGEES, MANY OF THEM CHILDREN, STANDING 4.58 30. GV GROUP OF SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE GROUND 6.08 31. CU LITTLE GIRL 6.21 32. GVS WOMEN, ONE WITH CHILD TIED TO BACK, SEWING (3 SHOTS) 6.39 33. GV MOTOCADE CARRYING ALBRIGHT ARRIVING AT CAMP 7.07 34. GV ALBRIGHT AND OFFICIALS NEAR OFFICIAL VEHICLE 7.12 35. SV ALBRIGHT SHAKES HANDS WITH OFFICIALS 7.31 36. GV ZOOM IN ALBRIGHT IS PRESENTED WITH PICTURE; RECEIVES APPLAUSE WHEN SHE SAYS SHE WILL HANG IT UP IN HER OFFICE (ENGLISH) 8.07 37. GV REFUGEES STANDING AND WATCHING AS, CHILDREN SIT AT THEIR FEET 8.11 38. GV TILT DOWN, TILT UP ALBRIGHT MEETS CHILDREN SEATED ON GROUND AND LAUGHS WHEN THEY TELL HER THEIR AGES (ENGLISH) 8.25 39. GV/SV ALBRIGHT AND OFFICIALS WALKING IN GROUP (2 SHOTS) 8.36 40. SV REFUGEES IN GROUP AS APPLAUSE IS HEARD 8.39 41. GV ZOOM IN REFUGEE SPOKESMAN SPEAKS TO ALBRIGHT (ENGLISH)8.59 42. MV ALBRIGHT SPEAKING (ENGLISH) 9.17 43. SV/ MID VIEW ZOOM OUT ALBRIGHT MEETS WOMEN'S LEADERS (ENGLISH) (2 SHOTS) 9.40 44. GVS/SVS ALBRIGHT WALKING WITH OFFICIALS (4 SHOTS) 10.06 MONROVIA 45. SV ALBRIGHT WITH MEMBERS OF MEDIA AT NEWS CONFERENCE IN AIRPORT BUILDING (ENGLISH) 10.19 46. CU ALBRIGHT SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (ENGLISH) 11.48 47. SV CUTAWAY MEMBERS OF MEDIA 11.51 48. SCU ALBRIGHT LISTENING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION 12.03 49. CU ALBRIGHT SPEAKING (ENGLISH) 12.36 50. SV CUTAWAY JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES 12.36 51. SV MEMBERS OF MEDIA HOLD MICROPHONES AS ALBRIGHT SPEAKS (ENGLISH) 12.59 52. GV ALBRIGHT AND OFFICIALS OUTSIDE BUILDING 13.08 53. GV PULL OUT AND PAN ALBRIGHT AND OFFICIALS OUTSIDE BUILDING AS TRUCK FULL OF SOLDIERS PASSES BEHIND THEM 13.17 54. GV ALBRIGHT AND OFFICIALS ENTER PLANE 13.42 55. SV PARKED UNITED STATES PLANE WITH OFFICIALS NEAR IT 13.53 TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 41: REFUGEE SPOKESMAN: REFUGEES, THOUSAND REFUGEES, WE ARE ACTUALLY CATCHING HALF TIME. THIS IS NOT A LIFE THAT WE ARE LEADING. THIS IS NOT A LIFE AT ALL. WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE ARE AT HOME, IN A THOUSAND VILLAGES, WE CAN BETTER DO SOMETHING FOR OURSELVES. BUT FOR THE PAST THREE, FOUR YEARS WE ARE BUILDING THIS PLACE. THIS IS VERY DEPLORABLE." TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 41-42: MADELEINE ALBRIGHT: "WELL I THINK IT IS DEPLORABLE. I THINK ..." "EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT THE LIBERIAN PEOPLE IS THAT THAT THEY ARE HARD WORKING AND BELIEVE IN GOD AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO HOME AND FEED YOUR PEOPLE AND LEAD A NORMAL LIFE AND I WILL TELL THAT WHEN I GET BACK TO WASHINGTON, TO NEW YORK." TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 45: MADELEINE ALBRIGHT: "WHEN I MET WITH THE COUNCILMEN I WAS IMPRESSED BY THEIR OBVIOUS KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING..." TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 46: MADELEINE ALBRIGHT: "THIS COUNTRY MUST NOT SLIDE INTO THE ABYSS OF A DEVASTATING CIVIL WAR AGAIN. THE COSTS ARE TOO HIGH, THE SLAUGHTER OF CIVILIANS UNACCEPTABLE AND THE STABILITY OF WEST AFRICA TOO IMPORTANT TO PERMIT A RETURN TO THE POWER STRUGGLES OF RECENT YEARS. MY OWN JUDGEMENT BEGINS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DETERMINATION THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD TAKE A RISK FOR PEACE WHEN WE HAVE THE MEANS AND WHEN WE CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN LIBERIA IS CRITICAL TO THE WIDER SEARCH FOR PEACE ON THIS CONTINENT. I WILL REPEAT TO THE PEOPLE OF LIBERIA WHAT I TOLD THE COUNCIL OF STATE THIS MORNING. THE CIVIL WAR THAT DEVASTATED THIS COUNTRY OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS WAS YOUR WAR. NOW THE PEACE PLEDGE AT ABUJA IS YOUR PEACE TO ACHIEVE. THE UNITED STATES STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE ABUJA PEACE ACCORD AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO ITS TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION. BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, EITHER YOU FULFILL THE PROMISE OF ABUJA OR YOU WILL PLUNGE YOUR COUNTRY ONCE AGAIN INTO THE ABYSS. THE CHOICE IS YOURS. THE RESPONSIBILITY IS YOURS AND THE FUTURE IS YOURS ALONE TO DETERMINE." TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 49: MADELEINE ALBRIGHT: "THE VIOLENCE MUST END. THE HATRED MUST SUBSIDE. THE UNITED STATES WILL REMAIN THE ALLY OF THOSE WHO PURSUE PEACE AND JUSTICE. IMPLEMENTING THE ABUJA ACCORD IS LIBERIA'S BEST CHANCE TO ACHIEVE BOTH. YOUR LEADERS MUST HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL AND YOU MUST HAVE THE POLITICAL COURAGE TO SUCCEED IN BUILDING A NEW PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS LIBERIA." TRANSCRIPT SEQUENCE 51: MADELEINE ALBRIGHT: "THEY DID NOT DIVERGE, HOWEVER, ON THE NEED FOR THERE TO BE A PEACEFUL SOLUTION. AS A COLLECTIVE PRESIDENCY I THINK IT PRESENTS AN INTERESTING WAY OF RUNNING A COUNTRY. DIFFICULT. BUT I HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING, AND I WAS VERY CLEAR." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 1st February 1996 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MONROVIA AND CONGO TOWN REFUGEE CAMP, LIBERIA
  • City:
  • Country: Liberia AFRICA
  • Reuters ID: LVA427COHYFZH48ZVML58S8CC1FS
  • Story Text: United States (U.S.) ambassador to the United Nations Madeleine Albright met ECOMOG peace keeping officials and visited a refugee camp during her visit to Liberia on January 17.

    Albright, who was also visiting the country in her capacity as a member of U.S. President Bill Clinton's National Security Council, came to Liberia to show support for the Abuja peace accords ending six years of civil war there.

    She met General John Inienger, the commander of the 7,500-strong ECOMOG forces sent by ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) as peacekeepers to Liberia.

    Fighting between ULIMO-J militiamen and ECOMOG and delays in the arrival of U.S. and Western logistics backup had forced ECOMOG to delay its plan for starting to disarm 60,000 rebels in mid January.

    Later in the day, Albright visited Congo Town refugee camp, near Monrovia and heard refugees' appeals for help in achieving repatriation.

    Albright said the situation in the refugee camp was deplorable and that she understood the refugees' need to return to their homes. She promised to raise their concerns to U.S. leaders and at the United Nations.

    At a news conference, Albright said the United States supported the Abuja peace accords but that it was up to Liberians to implement the terms of that agreement.

    She stressed that developments in Liberia were critical to the wider search for peace on the African continent.

    Almost 150,000 people were killed and half the pre-civil war population of 2.5 million was displaced as a result of the civil war, which broke out in 1989.


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