IDI praises Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf upon winning this year’s Nobel Peace Prize

The Israeli Diamond Industry praised Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf upon her winning this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Expressing his views on this, Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) Chairman Moti Ganz repeated similar praise about her leadership, as he did in 2007 when during an official visit by Sirleaf to Israel, the IDI initiated a memorandum of understanding between Liberia and the Israeli Diamond Industry, to foster strategic cooperation between the diamond industries of both countries. At the time Ganz mentioned that President Sirleaf represented “a new spirit in Africa, which brings great hope to the countries in the region. President Sirleaf is a woman of vision who is determined to improve the lot of her country and her people.” Upon her winning this year’s Nobel Peace Prize he noted that “President Sirleaf, the first woman to be democratically elected to head a government in Africa, is a role model to women throughout Africa and the world.”

The Nobel Prize committee cited Sirleaf’s efforts to secure peace in her country, promote economic and social development and strengthen the position of women. Sirleaf herself said that the award was recognition of Liberia’s “many years of struggle for justice, peace and promotion of development.” Along with Sirleaf, two other women - Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemen’s Tawakkul Karman also won the coveted prize.