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Liberia Recalls Its U.S. Ambassador

   Ambassador  Milton Nathaniel Barnes denies he's being recalled because
   he has presidential ambition in 2011

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 03 August 2010

   Liberian  President  Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has recalled with immediate
   effect her ambassador to the United States, Milton Nathaniel Barnes.

   Map of Liberia

   The  president  gave  no  reason  for  the recall, but there have been
   speculations  that Ambassador Barnes, who was a presidential candidate
   in  the  2005 election, was planning on running again for president in
   the 2011 election.

   There  have  also been allegations that the ambassador recently made a
   presentation  to friends in the United States outlining his vision for
   Liberia and criticizing the Sirleaf government.

   Ambassador Barnes said that as a political appointee, he serves at the
   will and pleasure of the president.

   âI  received  an  official  letter from President Sirleaf this morning
   (Monday)  recalling  me  to  Monrovia  for consultation and a possible
   reassignment.  Considering that my appointment I serve at the will and
   pleasure  of  the president, I have received the letter with gratitude
   and appreciation,â he said.

   Barnes  denied  allegations  that  he  recently made a presentation to
   friends  in  the  United  States outlining his vision for Liberia as a
   potential presidential candidate in the 2011 elections.

   âItâs absolutely not true. I was invited to a friendâs birthday party.
   As  you  know with many Liberians in any social gathering politics are
   discussed.  There were political discussions, but I did not in any way
   shape  or form declare or express any ambition or political ambition,â
   Barnes said.

   He  also denied he criticized the government he represents at the same
   gathering.

   âWhy  would  I  criticize the government that Iâm part of? I certainly
   did  not. My function here is to serve in the interest of Liberia, and
   Iâve  done  so with great dignity and pride and honor, and I challenge
   anyone  to  come  up  and  show an instance where I was critical of my
   government,â Barnes said.

   Barnes  is  a  former  finance  minister  in  the government of former
   Liberian President Charles Taylor.

   He  ran  as  a  presidential  candidate in the 2005 election under the
   banner of the Liberia Destiny Party.

   He  was  appointed  Liberiaâs ambassador to the United Nations in 2006
   before taking up the job in Washington.

   Barnes  said  he served his country to the best of his ability despite
   the  fact  that he is not a member of President Sirleafâs ruling Unity
   Party.

   âIn  spite  of  the  fact  that  I  am  of an opposition party, I have
   publically  acknowledged  and  I  expressed  appreciation to President
   Sirleaf  for giving me this opportunity, and I have served to the best
   of  my  ability  in  the  interest of Liberia following her agenda. So
   there  was  no  time in my career in New York or in here in Washington
   where I was critical of Mrs. Sirleaf or the government,â Barnes said.

   He did not rule out running for president in 2011.

   âLook,  I am part of a political party â the Liberia Destiny Party. We
   participated  in  the election in 2005. We are a party that expects to
   participate  in  the political dispensation in Liberia. But I have not
   made  the personal decision to pursue this ambition. And when we do so
   at the appropriate time, we will make known through our party,â Barnes
   said.

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