06 February 2018, Monrovia – UNMIL Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Political and Rule of Law, Mr. Waldemar Vrey, says UNMIL supports the establishment of the National Center for the Coordination of the Response Mechanism (NCCRM) in Liberia, which is funded by the United States government, and embraced by ECOWAS as it continues to launch NCCRM in countries of the West Africa sub-region. Mr. Vrey said NCCRM in Liberia will become an important part of the development of an early warning network across the country, and indeed have a contributing role to play in the wider West Africa region. “In Liberia, it will not only gather information and analyze its own early warning information; it will also work with other networks established by the Mano River Union (MRU) and the National Security Secretariat including the County and District Security Councils,” the DSRSG noted.

Mr. Vrey said while the recent elections have demonstrated how stable and peaceful Liberia has become, one should also agree that there are always small community disputes and disagreements which if not addressed can risk going out of control, adding “Early warning and accurate situational awareness is vital in any post-conflict country including Liberia. This is exactly the approach that the Secretary-General is promoting for the United Nations, and I am delighted that the Sub-region is making this strategy a priority.”

The launch of the National Center for the Coordination of the Response Mechanism (NCCRM) in Liberia ceremony on Tuesday, 6 February 2018 was attended by the Vice President of Liberia, Mrs. Jewel Howard Taylor, Mr. Marcel A. De Souza, President of ECOWAS Commission, Senior UNMIL leadership, Members of the ECOWAS Parliament at the Liberian Legislature, Senior Government Officials, the Diplomatic Corps among others.