Russ Feingold: “I commend the Liberian people on their recent Presidential and parliamentary elections. News reports of people camping…”

“I commend the Liberian people on their recent Presidential and parliamentary elections. News reports of people camping outside polling areas to vote, strong voter turnout, and a free and fair democratic process in Liberia are inspiring. Following a 14- year-long civil war and the regime of former Liberian leader Charles Taylor, who fled in exile in August 2003, the war-tired people of Liberia deserve our support as they work to bring about a legitimate, representative government in that country. However, Liberia's elections are not the silver bullet for stability. There remains much work to be done to build long-term stability in this country, and the U.S. has a meaningful role to play. We must remain engaged in Liberia to help rebuild and strengthen institutions. The legitimacy of government is contingent upon the public's confidence, and lasting stability depends on such steps as rooting out corruption and providing transparency in government. The Liberian people deserve our unflagging support in those endeavors. Too much is at stake to turn our back and allow Liberia to regress into a state that houses a corrupt and abusive government and further destabilizes West Africa. In looking forward, Liberians must also reconcile with the past. Years of horrible violence and conflict and the drastic decline of humanitarian conditions in the country under the regime of Charles Taylor need resolution.…”