The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s UNMIL Radio Coffee Break Programme with special guest Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) 

Hosts:  Eva Flomo, UNMIL Radio Producer, UNMIL Public Information Section 

Ms. Eva Flomo (UNMIL Radio Producer)

Good morning Madame SRSG and welcome to Coffee Break today.

Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG)

Good morning Eva; and good morning UNMIL Radio listeners, it is a pleasure to be with you.

 Ms. Eva Flomo (UNMIL Radio Producer)

Madame SRSG, if you don’t mind we will go right into the matter – today is 22 August 2011, one day before the referendum here in Liberia, do you have any specific message you would like to give the Liberian people?

Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj (SRSG)

Well Eva, I think I would like to remind everybody that the referendum tomorrow and the elections later in the year are truly a milestone in Liberia’s history. It will be the chance for all Liberians to demonstrate to themselves and indeed to the international community that the pass is behind you. It will be a chance to demonstrate that all Liberians want to continue on the road to sustainable peace; on the road to sustainable development and to solidify democracy in Liberia. So it is a real milestone that should not be taken lightly. And I wish all Liberians to participate in these upcoming events in this spirit and I promise you that UNMIL and the UN family are committed to supporting Liberians in realizing sustainable peace and development in Liberia.

Ms. Eva Flomo (UNMIL Radio Producer)

Madame SRSG, do you have any concerns or worries for tomorrow’s referendum?

Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj (SRSG)

I do not have any worries at such; but I have an appeal; because as I said, it is truly vital that this referendum and the elections to follow are successful. And I think it is crucial that the right messages are being sent by each and every Liberian participating. And they can only send that message if they participate based on the democrat principles and demonstrate in practice that they want peace and security for all.

So my appeal to all during this process is [to] discuss but respect one another even if you do not agreement on the substance. Democracy is all about discussion and respect for each other’s views even if they are diverging. I appeal to everybody not to try resolving to any potential disagreement on the substance by taking up violence. I appeal to everybody to say no to violence. I appeal to everybody not to be tempted to result to violence; not to be dragged into violence, but agree that your voice is heard through the ballot paper. 

Ms. Eva Flomo (UNMIL Radio Producer)

Madame SRSG, you mention potential violence with regards to this electoral period, what is UNMIL doing with regards to security during that time? 

Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj (SRSG)

Let me first say that the first line of defense, so to speak, the first in line for protecting security in Liberia is the Liberia National Police. But UNMIL is present all over the country. We are in every county and we are regularly patrolling and monitoring throughout the country. On Election Day and Referendum Day, we will as we do on a daily basis [patrol and monitor] but we will be even more vigilant on those days, to provide support for the national security agencies. Will do it with our Police, with our Form Police Unit and if necessary with our military contingent. So once again I would like to say that violence should not and will not be tolerated by anybody. That also goes for UNMIL. We are on our toes.

Ms. Eva Flomo (UNMIL Radio Producer)

And are you concerned Madam SRSG with possible security threats or issues steaming from the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire?

Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj (SRSG)

I think we should treat the two situations separately. It is clear that the fallout from the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire has had consequences in Liberia and we are closely monitoring that situation. UNMIL has now strengthened her presence in the border region. We are engaging in intense cooperation with all the Liberia Security Agencies; the police, including the armed Emergency Response Unit, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization officers  and others in order to monitor the what is going on around the border.

We have also step up our cooperation with our colleagues from the UN in Côte d’Ivoire; we have intensified the cooperation between the two missions; we are coordinating the patrols, we are exchanging information and we are meeting on a regular basis. Just last week, we had a meeting in Harper not only between the two missions but also with representatives from the security agencies, from the Government of Liberia and the Government of Cote d’Ivoire. It should be a joint effort to make sure that nothing happens along that long border that threatens peace either in Cote d’Ivoire or in Liberia.

But I want to say one thing about the border to Cote d’Ivoire; and many of you know much better than I. It is over 700 km and it goes through dense rainforest and very few official crossing points. We need the cooperation of each and every one living in the region to tell us or the Liberia security agencies if see something happening in their area that should not be happening. I am talking about weapons; I am talking about illegal movement of people or goods across the borders. Please cooperate with all of us to make that that situation does not have far reaching consequences for the peace here in Liberia or Cote d’Ivoire for that matter.

Ms. Eva Flomo (UNMIL Radio Producer)

Madam SRSG, I would like to ask you one final question if you please.  You spoke of about international support for Liberia during this period and the continued commitment by the UN family.  UNMIL’s mandate comes up for renewal in September, what do see as the way forward and how long will that commitment last, will it change after the elections?

Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj (SRSG)

Thank you Eva, I think we should take it one step at a time. As I have said it is a historic milestone in Liberia’s history, these elections. So let us get through them and let us make sure the elections are free, fair and without violence, that will be notable success.

But I would also like to say that I think it is clear to everybody that a lot has happened in Liberia since the peacekeepers came here in October 2003. There is still a long way to go, I know that, but you have enjoyed peace in Liberia since 2003. Children have started going to school, children that have never seen war. I think that is the situation we should all build up to sustain that peace, to make it possible for those children to finish school without knowing war and violence. We should spend a lot of time building the economy so that development becomes a benefit for each and every Liberian.

Our mandate is up for discussion in the Security Council in September that is before the elections and after the referendum. I am fairly confident that the Council will prolong our mandate at least until after the elections; I do not know till when, and then we will look at it all. It is also clear that the job is not finished yet and it is my strong hope that the Council, when they start looking at the future of UNMIL as they have in the past, will make sure it is a gradual process. But first let us all work together to have free, fair, and peaceful elections and no violence and then we will look at the way forward.

Ms. Eva Flomo (UNMIL Radio Producer)

What of UNMIL’s future?

Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj (SRSG)

Well, in the final analyzes, UNMIL’s future is to get out of Liberia. The question is when? And that where I talk about a gradual draw down; it is very important that while we keep the peace in Liberia, we are working closely with the Liberia security institutions to build their capacity and capability to take care of peace in Liberia.

We have been doing so over the years and we are doing it as we speak. It is a process, it takes time, people have to be educated, equipment has to be bought, we have to make sure that security agencies are fully up and running. And I am confident that in this gradual process the Security Council will work with us and will understand that we cannot risk throwing all has been achieved overboard from one day to another but that we work dedicated and committed with our Liberian counterparts in building the capacity so that you can full take care of your own security. But the security of the Individual Liberian has to be the primary concern.

Ms. Eva Flomo (UNMIL Radio Producer)

Thank you very much Madame SRSG for being a special guest with us this morning

Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj (SRSG)

Thank you very much Eva and all UNMIL Radio Listeners, and once again, remember tomorrow and the days that follow until we are through the elections, let your voice be heard through the ballot and refrain from violence, say no to violence, thank you very much.

Ms. Eva Flomo (UNMIL Radio Producer)

You have been listening to a special coffee break with Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator of UN Operations in Liberia….