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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Jul 2013 : 14:24:04
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Gambia, EU to re-launch political dialogue
By Isatou Senghore-Njie
The Point: Published on Tuesday, July 09, 2013
 The Government of The Gambia and the European Union will this week resume political dialogue, after the EU’s 17-points demands under its Article 8 political dialogue with the government were rejected by President Yahya Jammeh in January this year, a senior EU official said on Monday.
Nicholas Westcott, European Union’s Managing Director for Africa, told waiting journalists yesterday after a closed-door meeting with President Jammeh that the dialogue will resume on Thursday 11th July 2013.
‘We just had an audience with President Jammeh. We came to re-launch the political dialogue between the EU and the Republic of The Gambia. This is an integral part of our program under the Lome Treaty, and I am pleased to say that we were able to have a very fruitful, extended, frank and honest exchange of views on a whole range of topics with President Jammeh and a number of ministers,’ he told reporters.
It would be recalled that President Jammeh, earlier in January this year, rejected a 17-point set of demands by the European Union to be discussed with the Gambia government during a planned political dialogue, stressing that he will never be blackmailed by a group with “chicken change” to accept what is not in the interest of the Gambian people.
Among the demands by the European Union are the upholding of the moratorium on the death penalty with immediate effect, revision of laws on freedom of expression and media regulations within 24 months, provision of information regarding last year’s executions, including location of burial to the families.
‘We raised most of the issues that have been a cause for problems before; we reached an understanding that there should be a full exchange of information from both sides, questions asked, answers provided where they are and that the political dialogue would continue in its full form later this week on 11th July,’ Westcott stated.
He told reporters that there are a whole range of regional security issues, and governance issues here in The Gambia including human rights issues, and that all these will be taken up and pursued in the continuing dialogue.
The European Union in 2010 cancelled 22 million euros in budget support to the Gambia due to concerns over human rights and governance.
The European Union remains the leading aid provider for Gambia, with a total of 65.4 million euros of grants allocated for the period 2008-2013.
Source: The Point
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jul 2013 : 20:49:56
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Good News,
‘We just had an audience with President Jammeh. We came to re-launch the political dialogue between the EU and the Republic of The Gambia. This is an integral part of our program under the Lome Treaty, and I am pleased to say that we were able to have a very fruitful, extended, frank and honest exchange of views on a whole range of topics with President Jammeh and a number of ministers,’ he told reporters. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2013 : 00:32:45
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| "We raised most of the issues that have been a cause for problems before; we reached an understanding that there should be a full exchange of information from both sides, questions asked, answers provided where they are and that the political dialogue would continue in its full form later this week on 11th July,’ Westcott stated." |
Karamba |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2013 : 09:10:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Karamba
"We raised most of the issues that have been a cause for problems before; we reached an understanding that there should be a full exchange of information from both sides, questions asked, answers provided where they are and that the political dialogue would continue in its full form later this week on 11th July,’ Westcott stated."
That means human rights remains on the table. Well done Mr. Westcott, the Eurocrat. His name sounds English which makes it even better.
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2013 : 14:00:44
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EU-GAMBIA POLITICAL DIALOGUE TO RESUME ON 11 JULYby Abdoulie G. Dibba
Foroyaa: Published on Tuesday, 09 July 2013
The Managing Director of Africa European External Action Service, Nichlas Westcott, revealed to Journalists at a press briefing after meeting with President Yaya Jammeh that the EU-Gambia Political Dialogue is slated for 11th July 2013 in the Gambia. Mr. Westcott said his visit to Gambia is to discuss with the president regarding the EU-Gambia cooperation which covered national, regional, continental and international issues. He further told Journalists that during their discussion, they dealt with issues like the security situation in Mali, Casamance, drug trafficking and the steps to be taken, the state of the Gambia Economy and the foreign currency situation, the political situation and the new Information And Communication (Amendment) Bill among other issues.
Key among all the issues discussed, said the Africa European External Action Service Managing Director, is the EU-Gambia cooperation which is standing on two legs as one cannot go without the other and that they are the economic leg and the political leg. The Political leg called for political dialogue and, “I can inform you that the EU-Gambia Political Dialogue is slated for the 11th of July 2013 and it will take place in the Gambia.” See tomorrow’s edition for more details.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2013 : 21:08:47
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The Gambia European Union Political Dialogue To Resume
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on Wednesday, 10 July 2013
The twenty first century is not for robots. It is not for citizens who behave like subjects.
No government that keeps its population ignorant and treats them like subjects has the moral authority to criticise colonialism. The only government that deserves to lead is one that helps to promote the enlightenment of the people so that they could own their minds, break the shackles of mental slavery and seek the truth and act in support of truth.
This paper has done all it could to explain that the agreement between The Gambia Government and the EU Political dialogue is not one sided. Everything that affects Gambians in any EU country could also be a subject of political dialogue. Only a weak government that lacks self confidence would be afraid of dialogue with its peers. This is the time for debate to shape world values. Leaders who feel unqualified to participate in this debate should leave office voluntarily and stop being a liability to Africa.
Foroyaa welcomes the decision to resume the dialogue and hopes that the Government would honour all the provisions of the agreement so as not to be found wanting in democratic governance.
Leaders like Nelson Mandela have voices in the world because of their democratic conduct. Nobody could isolate a leader who promotes the liberty, dignity and prosperity of the people he or she leads.
Only leaders who treat their people as subjects could be isolated. Any leader who does not want to be isolated should work for the survival, development and freedom of the people.
This is the demand of the twenty first century.
Source: Foroyaa Editorial |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2013 : 02:31:37
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| Looking at how things go on in Gambia Nyarikangbanna, there is clearly no space for human rights. Jammeh will only have his arms twist for him to realise that Gambia is not an extension of his property empire. |
Karamba |
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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2013 : 15:16:43
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Gambia, EU hold political dialogue
The Point: Published on Friday, July 12, 2013
The European Union and the Government of The Gambia yesterday resumed their stalled political dialogue, at a closed-door meeting held at the Coco Ocean Hotel in Bijilo.
The meeting comes six months after the EU’s 17-point demands under its Article 8 political dialogue with the government were rejected by President Yahya Jammeh.
At the end of the meeting, which was attended by senior officials from the EU and the Gambia Government, the European Union issued a press release welcoming agreement to resume the dialogue.
According to the EU, the two sides were able to discuss a full range of issues of mutual concern, among them the political and economic situation in both the EU and The Gambia, including governance and human rights issues as laid down in the essential elements of the Cotonou Agreement.
Below is the full text of the EU release:
On the 11th of July the EU-Gambia political dialogue took place in Banjul. From the EU side were present: H.E. David Morley - British High Commissioner, local EU Presidency, H.E. Dominique Dellicour - EU Ambassador/Head of Delegation, Agnès Guillaud - Chargée d’Affaires a.i. EU Delegation, H.E. Gerhard Deiss - Ambassador of Austria, H.E. Johan Verkammen – Ambassador of Belgium, Ms. Margaret Jacob 1st Secretary – Embassy of Germany, Ms Anita Martin – Resident Representative of the German Embassy, Mr. Alfredo Gadea – 1st Secretary of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain, Mr. Jean Marc Transon – Embassy of France and H.E. Pieter Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan – Ambassador of the Netherlands. From the Gambian side were present: Hon. Susan Wafa-Ogoo – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abdou Kolley – Minister of Finance & Economic Affairs, Hon. Ousman Sonko – Minister of Interior, Hon. Nana Grey-Johnson – Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure, Hon. Amie Joof – Attorney General and Minister of Justice, H.E. Mamour A. Jagne – Ambassador of The Gambia to the EU & BENELUX, Mariam Ndure-Njie – PS. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mod A. K. Secka – PS. National Authorising Officer of Ministry of Finance & Economic Affairs, Sulayman O. Njie – Deputy PS. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muhamed Mboob – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ousman F. Njie – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malang Nyass and Emily Foon Sarr – National Authorizing Officer Support Unit.
The EU welcomes The Gambia’s agreement to resume the dialogue. And that we were able to discuss a full range of issues of mutual concern. Amongst other things, we addressed:
1) Security challenges in the region;
2) Consequences of the introduction of bio-metric data for Schengen visas;
3) The political and economic situation in both the EU and The Gambia, including governance and human rights issues as laid down in the essential elements of the Cotonou Agreement;
4) EU assistance.
The EU looks forward to pursuing the political dialogue on the subjects referred as above.
Source: The Point |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2013 : 19:27:35
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WHEN WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM ITS SIDE OF THE STORY TOTHE PEOPLE ?
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Where Is The Government’s Press Release After The Political Dialogue With EU?
The Gambia Government and the EU representatives have had their Political Dialogue. The EU immediately issued a statement on the dialogue. However, the Government of the Gambia is yet to issue a statement to explain its own side of the story so that the Gambia people could have a balanced perspective of the relationship to avoid future misunderstanding.
It should be clear to all Gambians that in all international relations the Government is acting on behalf of the Gambian people. This is why all international agreements are ratified by the National Assembly. No Government of the Gambia could be forced to sign any agreement that could come into force. It goes without saying that once an agreement is signed and ratified, the Government should have desk officers in relevant Ministries that are responsible for the administration of the agreement to monitor the implementation of the content of the agreement.
All joint meetings should either be followed by a joint communiqué or a press release by each side to inform their various populations on the issues raised and the progress made. We therefore hope that the Gambia government will adopt such practice so that the Gambian people would be able to have a balanced perspective on what the government is doing and saying on their behalf.
Peer review in governance is the best tool in promoting constructive, productive and principled international relations that enable governments to influence each other to better serve their people. When it is mutually agreed to equally monitor how governments governed sovereignty and political independence are infringed upon. The more a government is bold enough to enter into many agreements for peer review, the more transparent, accountable, democratic and stable it becomes.
This is the way forward for African Governments in the 21st Century.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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