Some warning to Jilanka, Vlad is a black-belt Judo and he ain't no Taiwan!

Malanding

http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/russian-companies-interested-in-developing-offshore-hydrocarbon-fields-in-gambia

Russian companies interested in developing offshore hydrocarbon fields in
Gambia
africa <http://thepoint.gm/africa/news> »
gambia<http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/news>
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
MOSCOW - Russia wants Africa to be more independent and become a vital
pillar of a multi-polar world, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a
meeting with the Secretary General of the Gambian Presidential
Administration, Momodou Sabally, on Thursday, May 15.

“Russia and Gambia have long-standing relations tested by time. Next year
we will be celebrating their 50th anniversary. Since then cooperation has
been developing steadily on the basis of mutual respect,” Lavrov said.

“Like in the years of the fight for decolonization of Africa, we would like
the region to be more independent and to become an important pillar of a
multi-polar world that is forming now. We want the dialogue to be backed up
by increased trade and economic cooperation,” the minister said.

He noted that Russian companies were interested in developing offshore
hydrocarbon fields in Gambia and cooperating in the field of fisheries. “We
appreciate your delegation’s visit and the mutual commitment to deeper ties
and we will be looking for ways to move further in this direction,” he
added.

“Russia plays an important role in the political liberation of Africa,”
Sabally said. “Gambia is the platform for Russia to play a more active role
on the continent”, reported Russia’s ITAR-TASS news agency.

Meanwhile, when the Gambian envoys returned to Banjul, GRTS television
reported on their mission to Moscow. The tv news footage on Lavrov’s
meeting with Sabally revealed that the year 2015 will mark the 50th
anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and The Gambia, which
were established in 1965, and that this was announced in Moscow recently by
Russian foreign minister.

It showed that Lavrov was speaking when he received the minister of
Presidential Affairs, Momodou Sabally, accompanied by the minister of
Foreign Affairs, Mamour Alieu Jagne.

The two visited Russia as special envoys of President Yahya Jammeh, a State
House press release announced, adding that they “concluded a successful
mission” to Russia, and were received in Moscow by Russian foreign minister
Sergei Lavrov.

Jammeh’s envoys “held successful deliberations on all aspects of the
bilateral relations from 1994 to date,” according to the news release
signed by Minister Sabally.

“This visit has further deepened, expanded and cemented our bilateral
relations with Russia in all aspects; a country that has been our strategic
ally since 1994,” the release added.

“We highly appreciate your visit, and we are going to explore ways to
strengthen our ties and make them better,” Lavrov said in the news footage
of his meeting with Sabally, aired on GRTS television this week.

The visit further deepened bilateral relations, which have been developing
based on mutual respect, Lavrov added, further stating that after the years
of fighting for Africa’s decolonization, Russia is now interested in Africa
becoming more independent, and developing more actively it’s economic base
and resources.

“We want to increase our economic and commercial cooperation based on our
political dialogue. Our companies are interested in our cooperating in a
number of spheres, including the development of hydro-carbons on the
Gambia’s continental shelf. Fisheries and tourism are also very promising
spheres. And another important element of our relations is education,” the
Russian foreign minister further pointed out.

According to the news footage, Sabally, in reply, told Lavrov: “I took note
of your statements, which are very inspiring.” He added that Russia has had
a strong presence in Africa, and “played a fundamental role in the
political liberation of Africa, a fact that is very much appreciated by The
Gambia, especially our president.”

He added that though a small country, The Gambia has been active in the
international community, having served as president of the UN Security
Council for two years, and recently as chairman of the AU Peace and
Security Council.

Sabally added that, given the strategic location of the country, and
knowing Russia’s role in supporting the liberation movements in Africa, “we
are offering ourselves as a platform for a more active role for Russia,
given the fact that Africa is now regarded as the new frontier in terms of
global economic activity.

Jammeh’s envoy further spoke of “making sure that Russia, which has been a
partner in the past, when it was difficult, becomes an even more
significant partner, as African countries begin the process of exploiting
their natural resources in a more significant way, and transforming the
socio-economic situation on the continent.”

“I bring a special message of gratitude and appreciation from the president
for the role Russia has been playing in Africa, because my president is a
very strong pan Africanist. I noticed in your statement you mentioned the
concept of mutual respect in relationships – a concept The Gambia has been
advocating in the current international set-up. This is the kind of
relationship we value.

“We have a very strong tourism industry; we are well-endowed with fishery
resources, and hydro-carbons. And in our search for credible and reliable
partners, we believe that we could not have better strategic partners than
Russia.

“We have enjoyed a lot of support from you. Students from The Gambia,
especially our doctors, surgeons in the medical field were trained here in
Russia. Still we have our Gambian students studying in Russia. We enjoy a
lot of support and cooperation from you.

“We bring that message of gratitude, and look forward to an engagement that
would be even more mutually beneficial.”
Source: *Picture: President Jammeh and President Putin*


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