US Ambassador Lauds Banjul's Progress to Democracy, Rule of Law The Daily Observer (Banjul) NEWS July 5, 2002 Posted to the web July 5, 2002 The United States ambassador to The Gambia, Jackson Mcdonald, has said The Gambia has made significant progress towards democracy and the rule of law. Speaking on the occasion of the commemoration of his country's National Day at his Fajara residence yesterday, Mr Mcdonald said: "The United States recognises that The Gambia has made significant progress towards democracy, the rule of law and respect for basic human rights". He noted that the stability and development of the West African sub-region remains his government's main goal, acknowledging that The Gambia was contributing to this regional stability and development. He said it was very unique in the world for the military to overthrow an elected president and allow him to return peacefully. President Jammeh, he said, deserved commendation for his noble gesture. Referring to activities marking the US national Day celebration, Ambassador Mcdonald said the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon were historic incidents that were vividly reflected on by all Americans around the world. He added that the attacks would be remembered forever. US-Gambia relations On the lifting of US sanctions onThe Gambia and the normalisation of relations, he said, the United States Government had been working closely with the Gambia Government and civil society to strengthen the relationship between both countries. "what we are doing specifically is in support of the fight against Hiv/Aids, promoting girls education and the University of The Gambia. We have also re-established the normal relationship with the Gambian military," he said. The war against terror Mr Mcdonald added that since September 11, the world had changed and "the United States, its allies, its friends including The Gambia as well as some countries which are not traditionally friends of the US, have joined together in a common struggle against terrorism in all its forms and from all regions of the globe". Ambassador Mcdonald added that only through such global cooperation would mankind be able to defeat the terrorists of this world. The reception was attended by SoS Ousman Badjie, NAMs, diplomats, security heads, and other dignitaries. There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see, yet small enough to solve. -Mike- Levitt- _________________________________________________________________ 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] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~