Speaker Events - Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Consolidating the Peace: Challenges and Opportunities for Liberia and the Role of the United Nations

On March 18th, the International Peace Institute hosted a lunchtime policy discussion on "Consolidating the Peace: Challenges and Opportunities for Liberia and the Role of the United Nations," with speaker Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Coordinator of the United Nations Operations in Liberia (UNMIL).

SRSG Løj recounted the progress Liberia has made over the years--including economic revitalization and the securing of some foreign investment--and noted that Liberia is a prime example of the development-security problem: i.e, that there can be no security without development, nor can there be development without security. Indeed, she cautioned that many challenges remain for Liberia, adding that the role of the United Nations in the country's continuing progress remains important.

Prior to her appointment as SRSG for Liberia, Ms. Løj served as Danish Ambassador to the Czech Republic and was Denmark's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2001 to 2007. Ms. Løj was also State Secretary of the South Group in Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 2001, after serving two terms as Group's Under-Secretary-General, first for multilateral, then bilateral affairs. Prior to those Ministry postings, she served as Danish Ambassador to Israel.

Chaired by IPI Senior Vice President and Director of Studies Dr. Edward Luck, the event was part of IPI's Special Representatives of the Secretary-General (SRSG) series.

Speaker
Ms. Ellen Margrethe L øj
Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator of the United Nations Operations in Liberia (UNMIL)

Chair
Dr. Edward Luck
Senior Vice President and Director of Studies, International Peace Institute