President
Adama Barrow and his French counterpart have agreed to develop cooperation in
the field of security, whereby Gambian security forces will be trained by the
French, a communiqué issued at the end of Barrow’s two-day official visit to
Paris has stated.
According
to the communiqué, President Barrow has also expressed commitment to turn the
Gambian consulate in France into a full-fledged embassy.
The
Gambian leader has also renewed his commitment to promoting Francophonie and
developing the teaching of the French language in Gambian schools.
The
following is the full statement of the joint communiqué:
Draft
Franco-Gambian Joint Communiqué
15
March 2017
At
the invitation of the President of the French Republic, Mr François Hollande,
the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Mr Adama Barrow, made an official
visit to France on 14 and 15 March.
In
addition to his meeting with President Hollande, President Barrow met with the
President of the National Assembly, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and
International Development, Defence, and the Economy and Finance, with a view to
strengthening our diplomatic, security and economic development ties. He also
met with French companies at the French Business Confederation, MEDEF
International.
During
their meeting, President Hollande congratulated President Barrow on his recent
election and commended his determination to ensure that the Gambian people’s
choice was respected and that power was handed over peacefully.
This
democratic change of government is a strong positive signal for The Gambia, the
entire region and the continent.
President Hollande welcomed the announcement of reforms, particularly in
the area of justice, human rights and security and the launch of a justice and
reconciliation initiative.
He
welcomed President Barrow’s decision to revoke the decision to withdraw the
Gambia from the International Criminal Court.
The
two Presidents decided to reinforce ties between the two countries to
strengthen democracy and the rule of law in The Gambia. A seminar on transitional justice will be
held in the Alliance Franco-Gambienne in Banjul to show, through African and
foreign examples, the importance of justice and reconciliation processes.
They
discussed in-depth the possibilities for enhancing bilateral cooperation. France
and The Gambia have agreed to develop their cooperation in training Gambian
security forces.
To
meet the Gambia’s economic challenges, France, within the framework of the
European Union and United Nations and Bretton Woods institutions, supports the
mobilization of donors to support the economic and financial programme of the
new Gambian authorities.
French
companies that met with President Barrow at MEDEF International were encouraged
to seek opportunities in the Gambian market, so as to provide their capital and
their expertise to further the country’s development. French public agencies, particularly the
Agence Française de Développement (AFD), expressed their desire to support
projects in the Gambia.
The
two Heads of State met to promote Francophonie and develop the teaching of the
French language, particularly in Gambian schools.
France
commends the decision of the Gambian authorities to turn the Consulate-General
of The Gambia in France into a full-fledged embassy.
President
Barrow expressed his deep gratitude to President Hollande for his warm and
friendly welcome, and for France’s support and assistance in Gambia’s reform
and development process.