African Journalists Cover World Bank Donors Conference on Liberia

February 12-16, 2007, Washington, D.C.
Contact: Washington Foreign Press Center Program Officer Christopher Teal
Telephone: 202-504-6354; Email: tealcl@state.gov

The Washington FPC hosted an overseas reporting tour for four Liberian and One Sierra Leonean journlists to cover the World Bank Donors Conference during the week of February 12, 2007.  In addition to covering the opening session, the journalists also had an exclusive interview with World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.  Several of the tour participants were able to attend the White House photo-up between President Bush and President Sirleaf on February 14.  Additional interviews included senior officials at MCC and USAID as well as numerous World Bank and multilateral officials.  The group also participated in a panel for journalism students at Howard University.  Finally, the group covered the signing of a Trade and Investment Agreement with the USTR and an Open Skies Agreement between the U.S. and Liberia, as well as several other events featuring President Sirleaf.