By Lamin Cham
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is expected to pay a state visit to The Gambia later this month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad has confirmed.
Contacted for comments on the Turkish President’s visit, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry Saikou Ceesay said the Ministry is working closely with the Turkish Embassy and counterparts in Ankara on the date of the visit.
Mr. Ceesay said bilateral relations between The Gambia and Turkey date back to 1965 when The Gambia attained independence from the United Kingdom.
“From 1965 until 2011, bilateral relations between the two countries focused more on defense and support at the International fora and at the OIC,” he added.
He said with the opening of embassies in 2011 in Ankara and Banjul bilateral relations became comprehensive and multifaceted involving education, commercial and economic issues.
He added that the relation under the new democratic dispensation of President Adama Barrow is an admirable one with the signing of bilateral agreements, protocols and Memorandum of Understandings.
He said this followed the visit of Foreign Minister, Dr Mamadou Tangara, to Turkey in April 2018 which brought results to fruition.
