The Embassy of Turkiye in The Gambia on Wednesday joined compatriots around the globe to mark the 103rd anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Turkiye at a reception held at Ocean Bay Hotel, Cape Point.
The day signifies Turkiye's transition to a modern democratic state.
Addressing the gathering, Ozgur Gokmen, the new Turkish Ambassador to The Gambia, said it was his first time hosting Turkiye's National Day reception in The Gambia.
“I am truly delighted to be with you all and to serve in this beautiful country. I may be meeting many of you for the first time tonight. However, I am confident that in the months and years ahead we will have many opportunities to work together and further strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Turkiye and The Gambia,” he said.
Despite wars, conflicts, crises and challenges around the world, he said, Turkiye continues to be an island of stability in its region.
He congratulated the founder of the republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and his comrades-in-arms, with respect and gratitude.
“Today we mark more than a century of our republic. Turkiye stands as a trusted and responsible actor in international affairs,” he said.
On the bilateral front, he said relations with The Gambia represent a shining example of a foreign policy focused on mutual respect, prosperity and shared values.
“We enjoy strong cooperation in the international arena. We would like to thank our respective leaders, His Excellencies President Erdogan and Adama Barrow, for facilitating our relations to flourish,” he said.
He commended The Gambia's OIC chairmanship and its initiatives in the international arena, such as the Rohingya case at the International Court of Justice and its stance against Israeli attacks in Gaza.
On capacity building, Ambassador Gokmen recalled that recently, Gambian Minister of Defence IsmailaJoof and Chief of Defense Staff MajorGeneral OusmaGomez visited Turkiye, where they held productive talks with their counterparts.
“Our cooperation has expanded significantly in various fields, including security, defense, education, health, agriculture and trade,” he said.
The Turkish diplomat described military and defense cooperation as the main pillars of relations since early 1998.
“Turkish military instructors have provided training to the Gambian Armed Forces and Gambian law-enforcement officers over the years, reinforcing the capacity of the security forces. Many officers and staff at different levels are currently pursuing training in Turkiye,” he said.
In education, he said Turkiye attaches great importance to supporting the new generation, who serve as bridges between nations.
“Each year, thousands of Gambian students receive Turkish scholarships. We are also delighted that the Turkish language is becoming widespread in The Gambia,” he said.
He also cited direct flights between Istanbul and Banjul operated by Turkish Airlines as a significant contribution to people-to-people ties.
For his part, Minister of Defense IsmailaBaoucarrJoof congratulated the people of Turkiye on the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic.
The day, he said, signifies Turkiye's transition to a modern democratic state.
“Since gaining its independence in 1965, The Gambia has established diplomatic ties with Ankara and since then, the two countries have maintained excellent bilateral relations and cooperation in various areas of mutual interest,” he said.
With a cherished history founded on mutual respect, cooperation, shared spiritual heritage and cultural values, the two countries in 2011 formally established diplomatic missions in Banjul and Ankara.
This development, he said, ushered in a new dimension in Gambia-Turkiye relations, culminating in increased high-level political contacts and visits, as well as a massive increase in trade and investment.
Minister Joofrecalledahigh-levelstatevisistin February 2018, toTurkiyebyHis Excellency President Adama Barrow to strengthen the already existing bilateral relationsandaswellas His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in January 2020.
This,he added, was followed by continuous high-level visits at the level of ministers, senior officials and joint political consultations.
The relationship, he said, has evolved into a robust partnership encompassing education, health, human capital development, trade, defense and security, aviation, energy, infrastructure and social development.
