Press release
His Excellency Mr Kemeseng S.M. Jammeh, Gambia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on 29 November presented his Letters of Credence to His Excellency Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey.
On the occasion, Ambassador Jammeh conveyed the greetings and best wishes from His Excellency President Adama Barrow, the Government and people of The Gambia. He congratulated the Government of Turkey for its valuable contribution to Turkey – Gambia relations.
The Gambian Ambassador informed the Turkish leader that the Republic of The Gambia attaches special priority to the relationship between the two countries and further informed him of the Government of The Gambia’s launch of the new National Development Plan 2018- 2021.
Areas of bilateral cooperation including education, trade, agriculture, fisheries, infrastructural development, security, tourism, women empowerment projects as well as cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral fora were shared at the occasion.
Ambassador Jammeh also appealed to President Erdogan for Turkish airlines to extend flights to Banjul which will ultimately compliment efforts to boost the trade volume between The Gambia and Turkey as well as increase people to people ties. He used the opportunity to request for an invitation to be extended to H.E President Adama Barrow.
In addition, President Erdogan intimated that his Government was sincerely delighted and gratified by The Gambia Government’s unreserved decision to establish an Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. He equally expressed his Government’s desire to maintain and further strengthen the relations which so happily exist between the Republics of The Gambia and Turkey.
On the subject of Turkish airlines to extend flights to Banjul, the President indicated that the matter will be addressed soon. For the Presidential visit, both sides will work in partnership to arrange the visit early in 2018.
Prior to the above ceremony, Ambassador Jammeh presented the copies of his credentials to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey on the 18th November 2017.
In the course of 18th and 29th November, Ambassador Jammeh also met with Mr. Ahmet Riza Demirer, Head of Africa Department and Mr Sedat Onal, Undersecretary, Political Affairs for Middle East, Africa and South Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and discussed areas of bilateral interest and mutual cooperation between The Gambia and Turkey.
Present at the presentation ceremony were Madam Aja Fatou Conteh, spouse of the Ambassador, Mr Sering Modou Njie, Deputy Head of Mission and Mr Musa Jobarteh, Finance Attaché of the Embassy.
