If you don't appreciate what we've got, others do! Read on. Gassa The Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh Awarded ISSA Award for Outstanding Contributions to Strategic Progress (Available at http://www.strategicstudies.org/press.htm#Gambia) Washington, DC, November 17, 2003 — The President of the Republic of The Gambia, Pres. Alhaji Dr Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, is to be honored with the International Strategic Studies Association’s highest recognition — the Gold Star Award for Outstanding Contributions to Strategic Progress — for his rôle in bringing political stability, infrastructural development and economic opportunity to his country. In announcing the Award — which is symbolized by a gold decoration created originally by Garrard, the Crown Jeweller, of London — ISSA President Gregory Copley said: “President Jammeh has worked with enormous vitality and dedication to build a society which has strong social, electoral and economic structures and freedoms. The Gambia is now poised for growth and to become a key strategic focus for West Africa.” He added: “At a time when West Africa is becoming a major factor in world energy supply, The Gambia has offered the prospect of providing a stable ‘port of entry’ for international investment into the region. This will materially help the people of The Gambia and West Africa as a whole. Pres. Jammeh’s strong leadership and commitment to market economics, democratization and an open society is a timely and positive example for Africa and the world. This was achieved with great courage and wisdom.” “President Jammeh has also demonstrated a willingness to make difficult decisions to bring The Gambia’s economy and infrastructure into line with world standards. This process had necessitated courage and a great sense of vision. The work, however, has engaged the entire population of The Gambia and in that sense the ISSA Award also recognizes the People, institutions and Government of the country for the pride with which they have — even during difficult times in West Africa — confronted the challenges of making The Gambia an important cornerstone of the region.” Pres. Jammeh advised the Association that he would accept the honor, and an investiture ceremony will take place either in Banjul or Washington in the near future. The Gold Star Medal by ISSA is specifically designated for Heads of State or Heads of Government. The Association does not present the Award annually, but only when it feels that there is a special cause for such recognition. -- There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see, yet small enough to solve (Mike Leavitt) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~