'This is the last chance for Liberia'.

The former Nigerian general and head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, who is now the chief mediator of the Liberian peace process, tells Ben Asante in Monrovia that he is optimistic things will work out better this time in Liberia, and that it behoves Liberians to know that this is the last chance for their country.

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Asante: Does the installation of the new Transitional National Government of Liberia (TNGL) mean essentially that your job is over?

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Abubakar: My job is not finished with the coming into office of the transitional government. Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, there are a number of benchmarks and specific goals to be achieved at specific times. It is our responsibility as mediators working with the International Contact Group on Liberia together with the UN to monitor each aspect of the implementation programme.

Top on the list of these priorities is encampment leading to disarmament, rehabilitation and re-integration. Next, is the restructuring of the military and other security agencies, the police, immigration and others. Then the repatriation of refugees from outside and the resettling of the internally displaced persons.

There would be the need to kick-off the reconstruction process and strong efforts towards constitutional rule and elections, and moving to a normal political order. Each of these programmes has a time factor and we are going to monitor strictly their implementation. We would all stay on-board to make sure these things are properly done. Until the elections in two years time, we are making sure mistakes are not made like the last time.

Asante: With the present level of goodwill, are you tempted in counting out the possibility of things going wrong?

Abubakar: My fears this time are not any-where near the fears I had in the early 90s when the process ended up with the election of a warlord. The view is that certain things were not done properly, like disarmament. The man elected then as president, Charles Taylor, did not do enough to reconcile and bring everyone onboard. Taylor's single costliest mistake was the refusal to restructure the military. Some people, therefore, felt short-changed and ended up taking up arms once again.

But this time I am optimistic. Gyude Bryant, chairman of the new transitional government, became chairman through a series of step-by-step elections, first by the political parties and civil society representatives. In the end, even the representatives of the armed factions voted for him.

In addition to these, every segment of Liberian society is included in this government, in the legislature and cabinet. No one can claim to be short-changed. I expect all Liberians to support the government to make it easier for the international community to help. The failure of Chairman Bryant would be the failure of all Liberians. So I believe Liberians would now realise this is their last chance, and they should therefore rally around and give their total support to the government and the international effort to bring peace to the country.

In the history of armed conflicts, particularly in civil wars, no one country has ever had a second chance. The international community is deeply committed here judging from the fact that the UN has deployed in Liberia what is currently the largest peacekeeping operation in the world. Liberians should, therefore, take advantage of these opportunities and not allow the goodwill to wane.

Asante: Basically, all you are trying to do is to get a failed state back on its feet. What is the first sign that the civil population can take as the beginning of recovery?

Abubakar: The Liberian state is broke as a result of war and other illegal acts. There would be urgent efforts to stop the misuse of the country's resources. In terms of immediate pressing needs for recovery, the country would depend on the goodwill of the international community. It is my hope that commitments made so far and new pledges to be made at an international donors' conference soon to be convened, would be met. I hope that soon the electricity, water, health and education systems can be revived.

Asante: What is the stand of the present agreement on the issue of serious war crimes for which there is clear evidence?

Abubakar: The concern on this matter remains serious. I think the Liberian people would deal with this too when the government settles down. The international community would help, and these matters can be re-visited once there is peace.

Asante: When you were asked to head these mediations, did you think it was going to be easy given your past knowledge of the Liberian situation.

Abubakar: I had no illusions that the negotiations were going to be difficult, and quite frankly some six months ago I would have never thought we would achieve this much and be where we are today in Liberia. It was almost impossible.

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Asante: Were there times that you felt it was over and no progress was going to be achieved?

Abubakar: Certainly, there were difficult moments when we felt the people we were trying to help to make peace with themselves were not serious and committed enough. But we were never about to give up. And so we are here today with a transitional government in place, the Liberian people on the verge of gradually picking up the pieces of their lives, and no longer living in fear.

Disarmament would soon start and people here have the chance to embark on the long and difficult road of rebuilding their nation, and to live a normal life, where their rights will be respected by government of their choice. It has been difficult. It has not been easy.

Asante: In concrete terms, what is the impact of your mediation efforts in arresting the drift into violence in Liberia?

Abubakar: When you throw a stone into a pond, it sets off ripples. Wherever in the world where problems occur in one country, it spreads to the neighbours. There is an agreement within international circles that Liberia has been the epicentre of regional instability, and the culture of violence here has been exported to other places.

This peace agreement in Liberia has a rippling effect, and therefore would bring peace to the entire subregion. It is one less civil war and an important one at that. Recent developments here strengthen the democratic path through dialogue. It creates respect for human rights. Implementing the agreement raises hopes for the younger generation for a peaceful future. It is an end to the traumas of war for men, women and children here in Liberia and places beyond.

Asante: The fighting near and inside the capital, Monrovia, attracted big headlines in the world media. Do you think the peace process will attract similar headlines?

Abubakar: The world took notice of Liberia's tragedy. We have made the efforts to stop the fire and now the world has to help by rushing in troops to strengthen the UN peacekeepers and to support the revival of essential services. The regional neighbours, through ECOWAS, have sacrificed their time and money in taking the lead and now the rest of the world is beginning to help Liberia. It is important the efforts bear fruits.