0100,0100,0100New Gambian Amb. Bojang Presents Credentials
at White House Times New Roman
arialU.S. Department Of StateTimes New Roman
arialFebruary 7, 2000
Washington, DC - Statement By H.E. John P. Bojang Ambassador
Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Of The Republic Of The Gambia
To The United States Of America On The Occasion Of The
Presentation Of His Letters Of Credence To H.E. President
William Jefferson Clinton
Mr. President,
I am deeply grateful for the privilege of an opportunity to present my
Credentials to you today by which I have been accorded the
challenging task of serving as Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of The Gambia to the greatest of
modern nations, the United States of America. Please accept also
the letter of recall of my predecessor, H.E. Mr. Crispin Grey-
Johnson.
I am equally pleased to convey fraternal greetings and sincere best
wishes from The Gambian President, His Excellency Dr. Alhaji
Yahya A J J. Jammeh, to you and your family as well as to the
entire American people. As you may be aware, all Gambians, in
telepathic unison, hold the American Nation in very high esteem
and together wish you resounding success in pursuing your
dearest hopes and aspirations.
Your enviable personal innate leadership qualities, coupled with
the characteristic social openness of your people, their diligence
and adept ability at creating dynamic entrepreneurial opportunities
with catalystic effects on the nation's economy, as well as their
unique cohesion and unity with government in pursuing goals of
paramount significance to their country, are inspirational, not only
to the Gambian people and their leadership but also to the whole
World.
Mr. President,
The aforementioned traits and endowments of the American
society have contributed immensely in accelerating your country's
evolution from poverty, dependence and previous foreign political
constrictions and domination. They are also the architect of your
country's significant modern role as a top co-bearer of the torch
and reins of power and influence over international economic and
political affairs.
Considering countries in chronological sequence of their
emergence as nations, the American Nation could be considered
to be too young to have assumed the leadership position it
occupies in the world today. However, the special factors that have
made it possible for your country to rise so rapidly into an affluent
and self-reliant position on the globe could also be emulated by
any other genuine leadership with great success.
Based on the massive achievements we have made over the past
five years in broad areas of our economy across the country, and
assuming that the trend continues and that peace and stability are
maintained within our borders and in the sub-region, we humbly
believe that, with the requisite tools in our hands to facilitate our
endeavors, The Gambia can also accelerate its development
process, compensate for the lost thirty-year post-independence
period and emerge successful. Obviously, wide concerted effort
and action are a prerequisite for the realization of this lofty
objective. We are fully aware of the significant role the International
Community can play in facilitating our development efforts and will
encourage their understanding and participation by every means at
our disposal.
Mr. President,
The position adopted by the American Government following the
ousting and replacement of the previous government in our country
was understandable. Given the devastating situations experienced
by civilians in previous similar armed military interventions in our
sub- region, a new situation in The Gambia, could not have been
spontaneously taken for granted.
It is our government's firm commitments to eradicate the political
wedge which has separated our two countries since 1994 and
which remained in place even after Presidential and Parliamentary
elections in 1996. In about eighteen months' time we are going
back to the polls to select a new government. The International
Community, with American Government representation at the
forefront, will again be invited to attend as observers. Following the
completion of this democratic exercise and the installation of a
new government, it is our fervent hope that Gambia's eligibility for
direct benefits from your country's generous development support
will now be fully restored.
Mr. President,
Turning to the nightmare of armed conflicts that have plagued our
region, I wish to inform you that The Gambia will continue to play a
pivotal role in the search for their resolution. You may have been
aware of the part our government has played to help resolve the
Guinea- Bissau crises. Efforts to achieve similar results in Senegal
and Sierra Leone are continuing. In view of the importance of
global peace and regional harmony, my government will avail itself
of every opportunity to participate in brokering peace wherever the
need arises, either via bilateral channels or through the relevant
institutions of the United Nations, whichever may be more
appropriate.
Mr. President,
In conclusion, I wish to thank you for the kind reception of President
Jammeh during what we consider to have been a very useful visit
to the United States of America and for all the development
support my country has received through your designated
agencies. We are equally grateful for the visit to The Gambia last
year of two Congressional personalities and for the apt choice of
H.E. Mr. George Haley, a gentleman of great objectivity and
frankness, as your Ambassador to our country.
My humble resolve is to work with the American Government and
other relevant American institutions and personalities to create an
atmosphere of mutual understanding, partnership and
collaboration between our two countries and peoples.
Mr. President,
Once more, please, accept my profound gratitude and highest
esteem.
The PRESIDENT'S REPLY TO The REMARKS OF The NEWLY
APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF The REPUBLIC OF The
GAMBIA PAUL BOJANG UPON The OCCASION OF The
PRESENTATION OF HIS LETTER OF CREDENCE
Mr. Ambassador:
I am pleased to accept your Letter of Credence from President
Jammeh, which establishes you as Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of The Gambia to the United States
of America, and I acknowledge the Letter of Recall of your
distinguished predecessor. Thank you for your greetings on behalf
of the government and people of The Gambia. I extend a warm
welcome to you and your family on your arrival in Washington.
As you noted, the personal ties between The Gambia and the
United States are strong, as exemplified in Alex Haley's novel
"Roots," where he explored the origins of his family. Similarly, the
Peace Corps has long been active in The Gambia, assisting the
Gambian people and building new friendships. I hope these
personal ties of family and friends will deepen in the coming years.
Although our governments have, at times, viewed issues quite
differently, I believe that our partnership during The Gambia's term
on the United Nations Security Council points the way towards a
more cooperative and productive relationship. Similarly, your
country has been a useful intermediary in the search for peace in
Guinea-Bissau and in the Casamance region of Senegal. We will
doubtlessly continue to agree to disagree on some issues, but with
the commitment and goodwill of both countries we can move
forward.
We urge your government to move now to establish a free, fair and
transparent process for the presidential election in 2001. We look
forward to working closely with you and your Embassy on such
issues as regional stability, democracy and human rights, civil
aviation and other aspects of U.S.-Gambian relations.
Again, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you as The
Gambia's Ambassador. I wish you every success in fulfilling your
agenda here in Washington.
(Distributed by the Office of the International Information Programs,
U.S. Department of State)
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