The European Union (EU) Ambassador, Laurent Delahousse, has officially apologized for his recent assertion made against Liberia.
Recently, the EU Ambassador, at a Monrovia City Forum on Solid Waste Management lamented that Liberia’s capital city, Monrovia was the dirtiest city he has ever seen among all African cities visited by him.
Furthermore, since his outburst against the country, there has been mounting pressure from several Liberians including some government officials and media practitioners calling on the EU Ambassador to retract his statement which they believed was undiplomatic.
However, in a press release posted on the EU official Facebook page over the weekend, Amb. Delahousse said, “This Tuesday morning at the Monrovia City Forum on Solid Waste Management, I shared in my public remarks some impressions on the situation of waste collection in the city that I have felt since my arrival in Liberia a year ago.
“I sincerely apologize to the Government of Liberia and anyone feeling misrepresented by these remarks and I willingly retract the exaggerated wording that I used,” he said.
According to the EU Ambassador, his comments were only meant as a wake-up call to Monrovians to change their practices of littering and improve the waste management system that is financially supported by the European Union and implemented by the city, community-based enterprises and SMEs and other stakeholders.
“In no way were my remarks intended to disparage anyone or to affect the reputation of the beautiful capital city of Liberia. In no way was my intention to take a political stance that would be absolutely contrary to my ethics and mission as a diplomat,” he stressed.
Amb. Delahousse further stated, “I confirm my engagement and that of the European Union on the side of the City of Monrovia and the Government of Liberia to improve the lives of the citizens of the capital city and of all Liberians.”