“This partnership is deeply rooted in the basic principles of trust, mutual respect and reciprocal benefits,” said the head of Mission, who presented credentials to Vice President Salvador Valdés on September 18.
“My objective and by extension that of the Embassy in Havana is to strengthen existing cordial ties through productive commitments,” Sonko said at the ceremony of his presentation to the rest of the diplomatic corps and officials of local institutions.
“In doing so, we also seek to actively link up with other missions accredited in Cuba to foster greater collaboration in our collective goal of finding comprehensive and lasting solutions to the numerous and complex problems that threaten global stability and peaceful coexistence,” said the ambassador.
Sonko expressed his position that no country has the right to subject the citizens of any nation to incalculable suffering, hardship and misery, referring to States that apply policies of sanctions and blockades.
“If we truly wish to live in a just and peaceful world, we must always strive to live by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” said Sonko.
The diplomat recalled that the history of Gambia and Cuba began in 1979 when they established diplomatic relations. However, it was not until 2000 that the Gambian government opened its embassy in Havana, “and since then cooperation between the two countries has been growing in importance,” the ambassador stressed.