Ireland Ambassador accredited to Liberia, but with residence in Sierra Leone, Clarie Buckley has assured the Minister of National Defense Daniel D. Ziankahn of her will country’s willingness to establish strong military ties with the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) especially in the area of peacekeeping.
Ambassador Buckley informed the Defense Minister that Ireland sees the AFL as a suitable partner, stressing that when such a partnership is established; it will further enhance the professional capabilities of the army in its peacekeeping operations.
She recounted her country’s contributions to peace in Liberia by the deployment of Irish troops under the United Nations Peacekeeping mission during the heat of the civil conflict.
Commenting on the ongoing recruitment process of the AFL, the Irish envoy to Liberia encouraged the Ministry of National Defense to consider the recruitment of more females into the AFL to meet the 15% quota set by the United Nations.
She then lauded Minister Ziankahn for his recent commitment to keep the army away from politics noting, “I was excited to hear that the Liberian military will remain apolitical.”
At the same time, the Irish Ambassador informed Minister Ziankahn of her country’s military preparedness to participate in next year’s Armed Forces Day celebrations in Liberia.
In response, the Minister Ziankahn expressed gratitude to the Ambassador for the visit and praised the long-standing relationship subsisting between the two countries, recounting the Republic of Ireland’s contributions to the bolstering of peace in Liberia.
Minister Ziankahn welcomed the gesture from the Republic of Ireland, which will see both countries’ military fostering a military-to-military relationship, adding that such a relationship will help the two countries in experience sharing.
