The
Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians
Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, on Friday 28th February 2020 received the United
Kingdom Envoy to the Commonwealth, Mr. Philip Parham CMG, at his office in
Banjul.
Mr.
Parham was accompanied to the Foreign Ministry by the High Commissioner of the
United Kingdom to The Gambia, Her Excellency Sharon Wardle. The Foreign Affairs
Minister welcomed the Commonwealth envoy and thanked Mr. Parham for the
diplomatic engagement. Minister Tangara highlighted that the Commonwealth is
not an organisation that imposes values on member states. However, the Minister
suggested the need to reorganise and close ranks within the Commonwealth.
Minister Tangara further emphasised the need for increased presence of
Commonwealth activities in The Gambia so that ordinary Gambians can feel the
organisation’s presence.
Dr.
Tangara highlighted that the Foreign Affairs Ministry will use the forthcoming
Commonwealth meeting in Kigali to strengthen cooperation with Rwanda with a
view to learning from the success story of Rwanda. He indicated that Rwanda
represents hope in terms of their experience and where the country is today.
For
his part, Mr. Parham used the opportunity to remind the Honourable Minister of
commitments made by leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in
London in April 2018. He hailed The Gambia as a great partner delivering on
sustainability while calling for strong solidarity among Commonwealth member
states.
It
may be recalled that the former President Yahya Jammeh unilaterally withdrew
The Gambia from the Commonwealth on 3rd October 2013. However, following change
of Government in January 2017, the new democratic dispensation of President
Adama Barrow facilitated the re-entry of The Gambia to the Commonwealth on 8th
February 2018. Since then, The Gambia has been partaking in all major events
and activities of the organisation.
Issued
by the Communication Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International
Cooperation and Gambians Abroad
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