US-Gambia relations fully normalised

Bilateral relations between the United States of America and The Gambia have taken congenial turn for the better as indicated by a press release sent to this paper from the embassy of the United States in Banjul, Thursday afternoon. as US lifts bilateral assistance restrictions.

According to the release, dated March 7, 2002, the US Government with effect from March 5, 2002 has lifted the restrictions on bilateral assistance imposed against the Republic of The Gambia in 1994, as required by section 608 of the US Foreign Assistance Act. A full text of the message reads below: Embassy of the United States of America in Banjul, The Gambia, is pleased to announce that, effective March 5th, 2002, the U.S. Government has lifted the restrictions on bilateral assistance imposed against the Republic of the Gambia in 1994, as required by section 508 of the US Foreign Assistance Act.

The US Government has determined that a democratically elected government has assumed office in the Republic of The Gambia following the presidential election of October 2001 and the legislative elections of January 2002, which international observers deemed generally free and fair, despite some shortcoming.

The United States looks forward to pursuing constructive relations with the people and the Government of Republic of The Gambia on a normal legal basis and in accordance with fundamental values, most notably, democratic freedoms, the rule of law, and human dignity. Embassy of the United States of America Banjul, March 7, 2002.