3 Presidents: Halonen, Wade, Kigame Arrive Today

To Participate In An Int'l Women Colloquium

(MONROVIA, THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2009): The President of Finland, Her Excellency, Mrs. Tarja Halonen, at the head of a 37-member delegation, arrives in the country tomorrow, Friday, March 6, 2009, on a State Visit.

Two African Presidents, His Excellency, Mr. Abduaoleya Wade of the Republic of Senegal, coming with a 28-member delegation and His Excellency, Mr. Paul Kigame of the Republic of Rwanda, heading of a 19-member delegation, will also arrive in the country this week to participate in the International Women Colloquium, co-convened by President Johnson-Sirleaf and her Finland counterpart, President Halonen.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the President of Finland and delegation will arrive at the Roberts International Airport, onboard a Special Presidential Aircraft, and will be received by the Liberian leader, President Johnson Sirleaf.

Upon arrival, President Tarja Halonen will be accorded an appropriate traditional welcome befitting a world leader and presented white rice and kola nuts by the Chairman of the National Council of Chiefs, Chief Zanzan Karwor.

On the same day, President Tarja will address the Joint Session of the House of Representatives and the House of Senate after which she will proceed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the Finland leader will be gowned by the Traditional Council of Chiefs, and admitted into the Most Venerable Order of the Pioneers of the Republic of Liberia by Grand Master of the Orders of the Republic of Liberia, President Johnson-Sirleaf.

Also during the ceremony, President Halonen will bestow on Her Excellency, President Johnson Sirleaf, the Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland with Chain and Star.

Meanwhile, the International Colloquium for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security will be graced by high profile women leaders and dignitaries from around the world.

Prominent among International dignitaries expected in the country include: Mrs. Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, at the head of a 37-member delegation; President Paul Kigame of Rwanda, at the head a 19-member delegation; H.E Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal, at the head of a 28-member delegation, and Sharif Husayn Ibn’Ali, Queen of Jordan.

Others are: the Governor General of Canada, at the head a 22-member delegation, the Vice President of Spain, at the head of a 65-member delegation; the Vice President of The Gambia, at the head of a 9-member delegation; Margot Wallstron, Senior Vice President of the European Commission (EC), at the head of a12 -member delegation; the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union, at the head of a 3-member delegation and Her Excellency Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and the United Nations High commissioner for Human Rights respectively.

The international dignitaries also include H.E. Luisa Dias Diogo, Prime Minister of Mozambique, at the head of a 10-member delegation; H.E. Kazimira Danute Prunskiere, Former Prime Minister of Lithuania; H.E. Rugh Dreifuss, former President of Switzerland; H.E. Maria Liberia-Peters, former Prime Minister of Netherlands and the First Lady of Sierra Leone, among hundreds of others prominent women leaders.