Guinea: A true friend - Says President Jammeh

Thursday, July 17, 2008
President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, Wednesday, returned home, at the end of a three-day working visit to the sister Republic of Guinea Conakry.

On arrival at the Banjul International Airport, the Gambian leader was received at the foot of the aircraft by the vice-president and SoS for Women’s Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, the SoS for Higher Education, Crispin-Grey Johnson and the secretary general and head of the Civil Service, Mrs Teneng Jaiteh, and service chiefs.

After the usual formal arrival ceremonies, President Jammeh told waiting journalists that Guinea Conakry is a friendly country, and that his visit was purposely to consolidate the already existing bilateral relationship with a "strategic partner"; a country he described as one of The Gambia’s best friends. The president disclosed that the visit also accorded him the opportunity to consolidate and show solidarity with the West African nation in the wake of the recent unrest that befell it.  

He said that "Gambia and Guinea have always been working together at the international level, so it is fitting that when such things happen to them we express solidarity".

On the prospect of signing a bilateral cooperation, President Jammeh said they only had to revive the comprehensive technical cooperation that already exists between the two countries, saying that due to the fact that there have been some changes at the governmental level of that country, some of the agreement have not been implemented.

He stated that the country is blessed with mineral and marine resources, which "we do not have in The Gambia". He also expressed the possibility of cooperation in not only roads but other infrastructural developments, expressing hope that Guinea would surely come up.

Author: by Kemo cham & Pa Malick Faye