Culled from The Daily Observer - Bakary Muritala. Please enjoy and have a good day, Gassa. Former President Jawara yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Jammeh at the Statehouse three weeks after his return from exile in the UK. Speaking to the press after a closed-door tet-a-tete with the president, Sir Dawda Jawara said his homecoming was in response to the unconditional amnesty granted him by President Jammeh. He hailed President Jammeh's amnesty offer as a good will gesture that would "contribute to national reconciliation and harmony". "It was wonderful to meet him to discuss matters generally. I have a feeling that this gesture of the president to invite me to come back home would contribute to a lasting reconciliation and harmony," he said. The septuagenarian statesman, who looked calmed and relaxed, further said: "I am back here as an elder statesman. My role will be that of an elder statesman. I am not taking part in active party politics... I will put my advise and experience at the disposal of the President and the nation". Ex-President Jawara said President Jammeh facilitated his homecoming in many ways as renovating his house to "a very high standard and in fact he has made it a major one". HOMECOMING Sir Dawda said he was happy to be home "It has been great and wonderful to be back home and to meet so many of my family and the people of the Gambia. ... My greetings to all Gambians without exception. I am extremely happy to be back home after so long abroad". President Jammeh on his part said all that happened had become past event and that he had nothing against him (Jawara). "I feel good that he has come back to settle as it is unprecedented in the history of Africa to come back home and settle as an elder statesman", he said. He added that ex-president Jawara had a lot of experience in many areas such as politics and leadership, "and with his experience also, we can move together to develop the country". He said his government was ready to work with him (Jawara) where and when necessary to develop the country. When asked on what issue of concern his discussion with Sir Dawda centered, President Jammeh said: " My only concern was whether he is comfortable at home and whether he has any major problems. We realised that he does not have any problems at home". _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~