President Dr Julius Maada Bio has said goodbye to Professor Foday M. Jaward as he leaves for his new appointment as Sierra Leone’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Qatar.
When Professor Jaward was appointed, he told the President he was very thankful for the confidence placed in him.
“It is a great honour to represent Sierra Leone, and it is a serious responsibility which I intend to discharge with dedication and professionalism,” he stated.
The Ambassador-designate said he would work to reinforce the long-standing relationship between Sierra Leone and Qatar.
He said his priorities would be to deepen bilateral relations, expand economic and cultural cooperation, and encourage more exchanges between the people of the two countries.
“Qatar is an important partner to Sierra Leone and a country that has a respected role in regional and international affairs,” said Prof Jaward. He said he would strive to promote the two countries’ common interests, including their aspirations for peace, security, sustainable development, and prosperity.
He also underscored that his work will remain anchored in Sierra Leone’s national interest and values.
Speaking on the importance of international cooperation, Professor Jaward quoted former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who said, “We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.”
“It speaks to the importance of mutual respect, dialogue and understanding in building lasting partnerships between countries,” he said. He said these principles would guide his efforts to strengthen relations between Sierra Leone and Qatar and promote constructive interaction between the two countries.
Professor Jaward also said that his appointment was not only a personal honour but a strong responsibility to serve the people of Sierra Leone. He said he would carry out his duties with integrity, dignity, humility and professionalism, quoting Aristotle’s political philosophy that the common good should be above individual interests.
He assured President Bio that he would listen carefully, engage constructively and work to build bridges of understanding. “I will look for specific opportunities to improve cooperation and to contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the two countries,” he said.
Professor Jaward thanked the President again for the trust and confidence reposed in him and promised to perform his duties to the best of his ability.
President Bio, in turn, congratulated Professor Jaward on his appointment, noting that it was well deserved and an important opportunity to serve Sierra Leone in a diplomatic capacity.
“I have no doubt that the Ambassador will do a good job for the country and will have a positive impact on the country’s relations with Qatar.”
The President said Sierra Leone and Qatar have a long-standing friendship and bilateral relationship. He also said his relations with the Qatari government had been cordial over the years.
President Bio said several areas of cooperation between the two countries still need development. He said global economic challenges and conflicts elsewhere in the world had affected some of them. But he said he hoped they could work through the problems and that the two countries would continue to deepen their partnership.
The President gave his full backing to Professor Jaward as he gets ready to assume his diplomatic post. “I am certain that the Ambassador will strive to achieve positive results for Sierra Leone and will assist in promoting the country’s interests in Qatar,” he said.
President Bio concluded by congratulating Professor Jaward once more and wishing him a safe journey as he prepares to leave for Qatar.
