‘Implementation Is Key To Our Cooperation’

By Abdoulie John

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges delegates taking part in the first-ever Presidential Council involving the Gambia and Senegal to actively focus on implementing the decisions that would be taken at the end of the experts meeting.

“Implementation is the key to our cooperation,” Ebrima Camara We should both be ready and committed to this,” Camara said today in his opening remarks at the experts meeting, held at Kairaba Beach Hotel, Kololi, some 12 km away from Banjul.

The Presidential Council meeting between the governments of The Gambia and Senegal kicks off today at Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi with a conclave of experts focusing on various areas of cooperation. As the first of its kind, the three-day confab will provide a highly interactive platform for experts, government officials to identify priority areas for continued cooperation.

“If we cannot implement our agreement in good faith and in good time, we will only be paying lip service,” Camara stressed, seizing the opportunity to highlight the important role played by Presidents Adama Barrow and Macky Sall to reaffirm their commitment towards cementing “ties of friendship and cooperation through the pursuit of beneficial bilateral interests.”

The Joint Ministerial Council was elevated to a Presidential level in March last year when President Barrow visited Senegal. This demonstrated the commitment of both Heads of State to strengthen ties between their sister nations.

For his part, Senegalese Ambassador to Gambia, Prof. Salieu Ndiaye reminded the gathering about the decision endorsed by the two leaders to meet every six months, which he said, is illustrative of their commitment to serve the common cause.

He emphasized the need for both countries to ensure that concrete actions are taken because it was about time to move from solemn declaration to action.

Ends