Mai NK Fatty, leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC), has on July 6, 2009, hosted a reception in honor of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited to the Republics of The Gambia and Senegal at Hotel Pullman Teranga in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, a statement from the party said on Tuesday.
Mr. Fatty, according to the release, "briefed the international community about the situation in the Gambia, and urged for greater and more intensified diplomacy to facilitate change on the ground".
According to the GMC statement, hosting the reception in Dakar was both hostoric and strategic, because over 90% of Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Gambia are based in Senegal. "These include all EU Embassies except that of the U.K; all Middle East countries, other African countries, etc. Only seven Embassies are based in The Gambia as opposed to sixty three in Senegal", the statement said.
The party leader, the statement said, also used the opportunity to deliver his first major foreign policy Statement, which focused on friendship, goodwill and appreciation to the=2
0delegation of the European Union and the United States for their resolute stand on the case of the seven Gambia Press Union members, who are standing trial on allegations defaming president Yahya Jammeh.
Mr Fatty also urged the Canadian representative to make his government's position known on the issue of the GPU seven.
Prior to the commencement of his statement, Mr Fatty requested for a moment of silence in honour of the memory of the late Deyda Hydara, the students killed in April 11 2000 demonstration, and all those who lost their lives in Gambian politics.
In a classic departure from business as usual, Mr Fatty stated that the position of GMC on Sudan is clear. He respectfully disagreed with the AU decision to support President Bashir, and called for him to resign and submit to the International Criminal Court.
On Zimbabwe, Mr Fatty called on President Robert Mugabe to resign and allow democracy to take hold in Zimbabwe, and blasted Israel for its continuous illegal occupation of Palestine. He called for global support for the establishment of a viable, strong and united Palestinian State and expressed GMC’s public support for ONE CHINA INDIVISIBLE POLICY, strongly emphasising that a GMC government would establish relations with the Republic of China.
Mr Fatty told the audience that a GMC Government would put the interest of Africa at the heart of it’s foreign policy, and relations with the Repub
lic of Senegal at the forefront. He maintained that GMC would implement a citizen-centered foreign policy, ensuring the protection of Gambians around the world. He promised to resolve the Cassamance imbroglio, working with the government of Senegal on the basis of reciprocity, with sincerity and consistency, noting that the crises has spread dreadful atmosphere of insecurity around Gambia’s southern border settlements.
The main thrust of the delivery focused heavily on the plight of Gambia and Gambians, and GMC’s plan to get the country forward away from current propensities.
The Reception included a press conference with the Sene-Gambian media, and featured on Senegalese TV stations, and widely reported in the print media. And a cross section of Gambians resident in Senegal are reported to have graced the occasion.
Earlier, on Friday July 3, the GMC Leader joined the GPU President, Ndey Tapha Sosseh and the Senegalese Journalists Union, the International Federation of Journalists and other international NGOs based in Dakar, to present a protest note to the Gambian High Commissioner, Gibriel Joof in Senegal, for onward transmission to president Yahya Jammeh.
Mr Fatty, the release said, walked with protesters from SYMPICS MEDIA BUILDING at Blvd de la Republic to Rue Thiong, where the Gambia High Commission is located.