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The European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA)      

Meeting Report held at the University of Western Brittany, France
Saturday 09/02/08

Attendance

1. 1. Elvis G. Morris, President, European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA.)
   2. Jacques Serba Co-Director and Ex-President, Institute for Administration and Civil     Service Studies (Institut de Préparation à l’Administration Générale, I.P.A.G)             University of Western Brittany , France
   3. Dr. Pierrick Le Jeune, Director IPAG.

Senior officials of the University of West Brittany and EFLA President, Elvis G. Morris met on Saturday, February 9^th 2008 to discuss the Diaspora Development International Conference to be held in Paris in 2008. The meeting was to up date the information sent from Liberia by President Morris and reinforce the Conference Technical Committee. This committee is responsible to validate the agenda and the success of the conference.

 The members of the Conference Technical Committee are:
1)      Mr. Elvis G. Morris, President EFLA, Chairman
2)      Dr. Pierrick Le Jeune, Director IPAG, Co-chairman
3)      Professor Philippe Reyman, University Paris 1
4)      Mr. Benoit Maribel, Director Foundation Mariel
5)      Professor Christian Duval, Director of I.E.P Aix en Provence (mirelle.barberis@ iep-aix.fr)
6)      His Excellency McKinley Thomas, Liberian Ambassador , France
7)      His Excellency Wesley M. Johnson, Liberian Ambassador, United Kingdom
8)      Dr Xavier Philippe University  of Berlin
9)      Mr. John Nimly Brownell, Chairman of Union of Liberian Organizations in the United Kingdom (ULO-UK)
10)  Dr Ebrahim Afsah, Max Planck Institute, Heidelberg
This committee is opened to new members.

During the meeting, responsibilities to contact the below listed venue for the conference was given to the following:
         Hall Kelber, an international conference center in the Paris fully equipped and takes about 80 persons. (Pierrick and Jacques will make contact)
    Eric Chevalier of HCCI – High Council for International Cooperation (Pierrick and Jacques will make contact).
     Jacques and Peirrick will contact various persons. Regarding others Hall.  
IIAP (ENA) = Pierrick
Sorbonne = Ambassador Thomas
Private Halls = (Elvis will make contact)
 Paris City Hall = Pierrick and Jacques will contact Marc Mathieu.

Proposed date for the conference: 23-24 May 2008. This date will be confirmed after negotiations and meeting with the Ambassadors of Liberia accredited to France and the United Kingdom respectively.Dierrick will contact a Political Science historian called Alain le Boeuf for his participation to the conference. Meeting will be organized with the following institutions (Corporation Minister, Desk Officer of the EU, will be done through Poignant via Pierrick and Jacques)
The senate and assembly done by Pensec via Pierrick and Jacques).
All member of the scientific committee must a resume of their CV   

1. The following time-line was proposed for the implementation of the conference:

Date	Action
17 February 2008	telephone conference with members of the Conference Technical Committee
8th March 2008	Conference document to sent to committee
15th March 2008	Meeting of the committee at the Embassy of Liberia in Paris and confirmation of the Hall
15th March 2008	Confirmation of the Hall / venue
20th April 2008	Invitation letters sent out
Beginning of May 2008	Information sent to the media
Beginning of May 2008	Receive papers from the various speakers

 

Mr. Morris emphasized that the European Federation of Liberian Associations being cognizant of these problems, have decided to host this conference to dialogue and provide recommendations as to what criteria should be set for West-African countries as they transform from humanitarian assistance to political and economic  reconstruction. It is hoped that at the end of the conference, more West-Africa Diaspora will play a pivotal role is contributing rebuilding of war-torn West Africa the EFLA boss said.

 He said EFLA has sent out invitation to other West African organizations and groups in Europe to participate in the conference since West Africa transition from dependence on humanitarian assistance to inter-dependence and sustainability. The conference will bring together Liberian organizations throughout Europe, Africans at home and abroad, international community involved in development, reconstruction and capacity building, academics, researchers, activists, students from around the globe.

  

Liberian Organization meets in France

Written by Aagon Linford   
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
Liberian organizations all over Europe and else in the Diaspora will meet in the French capital, Paris at the annual convention of the European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA). The President of the EFLA, Mr. Elvis Morris said the convention will be hosted in collaboration with major Universities including the I.P.A.G (Institute for Administration and Civil Service Studies, University of Western Brittany), France, and the University of London, School of Oriental and Africa Studies. Other collaborating universities are John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA, and the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney, Australia.
Mr. Morris highlighted that the conference under the theme “War-Torn West Africa Emerging from Humanitarian Assistance to Political and Economical Reconstruction” will provide practical recommendations to the international community on effective reconstruction processes for West African countries emerging from civil conflict. The EFLA boss said the conference will also focus on the gross human rights abuses by past governments and relevance of the International Court of Justice on the continent of Africa.
 
Considering the un-even political landscape in West Africa, Mr. Morris said the conference will discuss the Political and Social exclusion of the vast majority of local communities as well as the mass poverty, illiteracy and lack of economic and educational opportunities for the masses across West Africa. Also high on agenda for deliberations at the conference is Poor and inept governance and political administrations, decentralization political structure in West Africa, denial of the constitutional right of the West African people to alter and change their governments among other things.

Elvis G. Morris EFLA President Visit to Liberia from the 17/12/07 – 06/01/08.
 ELFA has been working on an international conference since the end of 2006. To better prepare this conference, EFLA President, Mr. Elvis G. Morris made a visit to Liberia to consult with local NGO’s, civil society, Liberia government and other institutions for their support and participation in the EFLA up coming Diaspora conference on reconstruction and development in Liberia.
18/12/07: meeting with Mrs. Adelaide P. Gardiner, Liaison Representative, Liberian Diaspora Business Community in the USA. We worked on the organization of meetings with various organizations, institutions and government agencies. She was the driver behind most of the meeting.   
19/12/07: A meeting was organized by EFLA Special Representative to Liberia, Miss Roberta Roberts bringing together 15 local Non Governmental organizations and civil society groups. During this meeting, EFLA President Mr. Morris thanked the various organizations for their support for the up coming ELFA reconstruction and development conference to be held in Paris. He explained the postponement of the conference from November 2007 to a later month in 2008. Mr. Morris confirmed that the change of date was due to the French civil strike, which paralyzed the movements in the country. Organizations continued to express support for the up coming conference and promised to send representatives to participate. During this meeting a press conference was held to give more details and clarifications to journalists on the conference to be held in Paris.
21/12/07: President Morris met with Dr. Richard Tolbert, Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC) and Mr. Pete E. Norman, Executive Director of the NIC. They talked about the importance of the NIC support on the reconstruction and development process of Liberia. They made mention of the invitation sent to them by the EFLA for their participation in the Diaspora conference in Paris. They agreed to fully participate and support this endeavor and will be present to the conference in 2008.
The same day, Mr. Morris met with Mr. O. Natty B. Davis II, National Coordinator Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee at the Executive Mansion. He assured the EFLA President of his support for this conference and hoped to receive all necessary documents and information, which will permit him to attend.
01/01/08: Consultation with Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the President of the Republic of Liberia at her residence in Congo Town. The President of Liberia told me that she was aware of the conference and she had seen and read the document of EFLA conference. She expressed her support and willingness to participate to the conference in 2008. Mr. Morris reechoed the EFLA invitation of having her as the guest speaker for this conference. She assured her support and presence to the conference if the EFLA planned in advance with the Foreign Ministry. The President then asked Mr. Morris to plan a meeting with the Liberian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
05/01/08: President Morris and EFLA Special Representative to Liberia met with Mrs. Olubanke King - Akerele, Minister of Foreign Affairs, republic of Liberia. The EFLA aims and objectives were outlined by Mr. Morris. Specific focus on the details and information of the EFLA Diaspora conference on how best can we speed-up the Liberian reconstruction and development process was the main highlight of the meeting. He emphasized the interest of the Liberia European Diaspora represented by European Federation of Liberian Associations, EFLA in having the President of the Republic of Liberia to be the guest speaker for the up coming conference. The Minister said that the President was expected in Europe by May 2008. She made mention of an Investment Forum for Liberia to be held in London, England by the Liberian embassy. She advised that EFLA coordinate with Ambassador Wesley Johnson on the date of the forum. The Minister said it was possible to have the President in Paris and London, if the dates were planned such that it will allow the President to visit the two countries and deliver her speech. She said the EFLA must write an official letter to Ambassador Johnson informing him of the EFLA conference and to plan a date and propose it to the Foreign Ministry. Once this letter is sent to Ambassador Johnson copies must be sent to the following government ministries and agency (the President Office, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce, NIC, the Minister of Education and the Commission on Reconstruction and Development of Liberia.). The Foreign Minister said the inclusion of the Commerce Ministry is essentials to this conference and advised that we write a letter directly to the Minister Johnson - Morris informing her ministry participation. 
Conclusion:
This visit has shown the interest of organizations, institutions and government agencies to support and participate in this all important EFLA Conference. We need to keep up the momentum and continue to work towards a successful conference, most of all since the board of the French High Commission of International Cooperation “HCCI” has voted its support. 
By
Elvis G. Morris
President, EFLA