In order to facilitate the rehabilitation of the children, she appealed for assistance in rebuilding educational institutions, especially those providing vocational and technical training. The Chairman of the Council of State for the Liberia National Transitional Government, Ruth Perry, told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon that she expected a new democratic government to be in place in Liberia by May 1997. In response to a correspondent's question concerning current policy on the export of Liberian natural resources, Mrs. Perry said that an embargo wasin effect on the export of resources. A correspondent asked if having a woman as head of the Government had affected the agenda. Mrs. Perry replied that it had not affected the agenda, because it was men who said that they wanted a woman to lead them.
Women have the integrity and the confidence to make a difference.
Mrs. Perry replied that the meeting was very fruitful and rewarding and that there had been talks about the situation in Liberia and what assistance Liberia would like from the United Nations and other international organizations. That assistance included disarmament, rehabilitation, repatriation, resettlement and education. Mrs. Perry replied that the warring factions had made a commitment at the Abuja accord meeting that they would disarm their soldiers. The assessment team had provided pictures of malnourished children and she had asked the NGOs to move into those areas immediately. As a result of the help received from those NGOs, the situation was gradually improving.