Banjul-Taipei relationship: An example of true friendship Says President
Jammeh, as he meets Taiwanese Defence minister
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Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The president of the Republic has once again extolled the fruitful and
cordial bilateral ties existing between The Gambia and Taiwan, stressing
that the Banjul-Taipei relationship is an example of true friendship.

His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was speaking Tuesday
afternoon at State House in Banjul, during a meeting with the visiting
National Defence minister of the Republic of China on Taiwan, Hua-Chu Kao.
The Taiwanese Defense minister, who arrived in the country Monday with a
high-powered six-member delegation is on a three-day working visit to The
Gambia, as part of efforts to further strengthen the ties between the two
countries, especially consolidating and expanding cooperation in the area of
defence and security.

The Gambian leader, whose government re-established diplomatic relations
with Taiwan in 1995, a year after taking over the mantle of leadership of
the country, made it categorically clear again that The Gambia under his
leadership will be the last country to abandon Taiwan. He described the bond
of friendship and relationship between the two countries as genuine and
true, and a true South-South cooperation that is based on mutual respect and
trust.

The visit by the Taiwanese National Defense minister to the country,
President Jammeh maintained, is a clear testimony of the strength of the
relationship and a manifestation of the high level of trust and confidence
that exists between the two countries. He declared that The Gambia is ready
to "pay any price" to defend the Republic of China on Taiwan with a view to
ensure that justice prevails and that Taiwan is given the due recognition
that it deserves, while deploring Taiwan's exclusion from the United
Nations.

"How is it possible that a country of 23 million people, they have a flag, a
national anthem, a country, constitution and a currency is denied a
membership of an institution they created and are part and parcel of the
founders of the United Nations," the president queried. He recalled that
when The Gambia became independent, the ROC was the first Asian country to
recognise that little Gambia is a country that is worth recognising, at a
time he said, when even the country's former colonial master thought it was
a futile attempt and that The Gambia was not viable enough to stand on its
own.

He further recalled that when his government decided to re-establish
diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it wasn’t easy even within the then
military council. The president was however quick to make it clear that the
relationship between Taiwan and The Gambia is not commercially motivated or
based on money. "But what is important is that we want to assure you that we
are your true friends; and you can have doubts about other countries but not
The Gambia as we are not for sale. Most people know that we have a principle
that money cannot buy. If it is a question of money, I don't think we would
have been with you all these years," he asserted.

Commenting on the military cooperation between the two countries, the
president acknowledged the training offered to Gambian officers in Taiwan.
He however stated the need to establish a military academy in The Gambia
with a view to ensuring cost effectiveness as opposed to the training of the
country’s security personnel in Taiwan. He said: "I think it will be more
cost-effective if we have our own military academy where most of the
officers, especially cadet officers and other junior ranks can be trained,
and then they only go out for specialisation. So a military academy is long
overdue and we would crave your indulgence for assistance to build the
military academy."

He also noted that the academy could also be used as a base to train
officers from other countries in the region that are allies to Taiwan. The
Gambian leader also spoke on the anticipated visit of President Ma Jing Jeou
of Taiwan to The Gambia, and again thanked the Asian island nation for what
he called their true manifestation of brotherhood and sisterhood and
friendship.

Speaking earlier, the minister of the Interior and NGO Affairs Agency,
Ousman Sonko thanked the visiting Taiwanese Defence minister for the visit,
which he also described as a true manifestation of the excellent ties
existing between the two countries. Minister Sonko stated that since the
resumption of diplomatic ties between The Gambia and Taiwan, the Gambia
Armed Forces (GAF) has benefited immensely from the Asian island nation. He
specifically commended Taiwan for the provision of four patrol boats, which
he said have enhanced patrol operations on marine areas and in cracking down
on some illegal ventures such as illegal migration, amongst others.

The minister of the Economic Planning and Industrial Development,  Mamburry
Njie, who was part of the 1996 diplomatic mission to Taiwan, gave a
testimony of the stamina and resolve the Gambian leader put in the
restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters,
Lamin Kaba Bajo, who is currently overseeing the Foreign Affairs Ministry,
underscored that the ties between Banjul and Taipei are dynamic, and growing
from strength to strength. He assured that The Gambia will not relent in its
efforts to champion the cause of Taiwan with a view to ensuring that it is
given the due recognition it deserves.

Speaking earlier, the visiting Taiwanese National Defence minister conveyed
President Ma's fraternal greetings to his Gambian counterpart, intimating
that his leader is willing to honour the president’s invitation to visit The
Gambia in the very near future. Defence Minister Kao also expressed
President Ma's deep gratitude and sincere appreciation to the president, the
government and people of The Gambia for the very generous and strong support
The Gambia has been rendering to their just cause for participation in
international organisations.

He also informed the Gambian leader about the Taiwanese leadership's
appreciation of the donation to last year's typhoon disaster victims in
Taiwan, a move he said demonstated that The Gambia and Taiwan are indeed
brothers and sisters, based on not only mutual respect and trust but also
mutual care and assistance. "On that particular event, The Gambia has been
also the number one supporter in terms of our disaster relief," he declared.

Kao also told the Gambian leader that his meeting with the acting Foreign
Affairs minister and the chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of GAF were candid
and comprehensive discussions, which centered on exchanging views and points
on the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. He expressed hope
that upon return to Taiwan, they will look into the issues discussed and see
how best they can cooperate in those areas that were tabled. He also hailed
The Gambia for being a highly harmonious country, observing that the people
live together and co-exist, something he described as exemplary.

The CDS of GAF, Lt. Gen Masanneh Kinteh, for his part, disclosed that during
his meeting with the visiting Taiwanese Defence minister at the GAF
headquarters, they discussed lots of issues bordering on the cooperation
between the two countries, especially in the area of defence and security.
He further disclosed that the most important aspect of their discussion
centered on the major areas GAF has benefitted from Taiwan, among them the
provision of training and capacity building, provision of patrol boats,
logistics support and infrastructural developments.

The CDS acknowledged that Taiwan's intervention in the military barracks
maintenance project greatly alleviated the accommodation problem that GAF
was grappling with, as 50 percent of the soldiers are now being accommodated
in the barracks. He said the areas he proposed as priority for possible
cooperation during his discussion with Defence Minister Kao was the need for
Taiwan's intervention in the establishment of a military academy in The
Gambia, the construction of a defence headquarters, assistance to GAF
engineers in the area of construction, as well as support for peacekeeping
missions.

Other speakers at the occasion included the Taiwanese ambassador to The
Gambia, His Excellency Dr Richard Shih, and the permanent secretary,
Ministry of Defence, Harry Sambou.

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*
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GOD BLESS SHEIKH PROFESSOR ALHAGIE YAHYA AJJ JAMMEH*
*(PRESIDENT FOR LIFE.)*
*
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*GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA*
*
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*GOD BLESS APRC*
*
*
*DOWN WITH THE FAILED OPPOSITION *


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