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Momodou
Denmark
11609 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Sep 2013 : 14:06:21
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France to close Banjul Embassy
By Baboucarr Senghore
The Point: Published on Tuesday, September 17, 2013
France is to close its Embassy in Banjul effective 1st November 2013 as part of a ‘‘worldwide adaptation of its diplomatic networks and to adapt to the times and finances’’, a senior French government official has told The Point.
Laurent Viguie, deputy director for West Africa at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told The Point in an interview yesterday that the change is not radical, but mainly to adapt with the departure of Jean Marc Transon, the charge d’affaires at the French Embassy in Banjul, who will be retiring at the end of September.
‘‘It is a worldwide adaptation of our diplomatic networks. The current Minister of Foreign Affairs started this a year back, to adapt to the times and the finances.
‘‘Times are difficult, and we need to adapt our worldwide coverage of our diplomatic mission. We are closing four offices in Africa and 13 worldwide. Elsewhere also we are reducing the number of staff,’’ he stated.
According to the French official, apart from The Gambia, other countries affected are Sierra Leone, Malawi and Sao Tome.
Laurent also told The Point that his visit to Banjul was to explain to the Gambian authorities France’s plan to reorganize its diplomatic presence in Banjul following the retirement of the head of its mission, Jean Marc Transon.
‘‘We met this morning (yesterday) with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad, and I was able to give her a letter from our Minister of Foreign Affairs explaining the situation, and saying that we will from 1st November onwards close this office in Banjul, but select and nominate an Honorary Consul who will follow up consular matters, and the political follow-up will be overseen and conducted from our Embassy in Dakar,’’ he explained.
According to him, technically it means that the office will be closed, and that the bilateral relations will take a new form through these two organisations and that, at the moment, the Embassy is under supervision...............
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2013 : 14:54:38
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| Even the french have found that money saving has now become the name of the game in diplomatic matters.The English undertook a similar exercise in the recent past when diplomatic matters came under the control of The British High Commission to save money. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Momodou
Denmark
11609 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2013 : 13:04:36
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French Embassy closure ‘unfortunate development’ says Hamat Bah
The Point: Published on Wednesday, September 18, 2013
The leader of the opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP), Hamat Bah, has described the move by France to close its embassy in Banjul as “a very unfortunate development’’, because France is playing a very important role in Africa, particularly in the fight against terrorism.
France announced on Monday that it is to close its embassy in Banjul effective 1st November 2013, as part of a ‘‘worldwide adaptation of its diplomatic networks and to adapt to the times and finances.’’
Laurent Viguie, deputy director for West Africa at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told The Point in an interview that the change is not radical, but mainly to adapt with the departure of Jean Marc Transon, the charge d’affaires at the French Embassy in Banjul, who will be retiring at the end of September.
Bah, who spoke in an interview with The Point yesterday, said France’s recent actions in Africa further demonstrated their commitment to African development.
‘‘France is a good development partner, particularly for African countries. Their recent action in Africa further demonstrated their commitment to African development,’’ he stated.
According to the NRP leader, while we understand France’s position in trying to normalize their budget deficit, ‘‘we must also take cognizance of the fact that French interest has dwindled in The Gambia in the recent past.’’
The departure of the Accor Group and other French companies, he added, proved that fact.
‘‘It is, therefore, not surprising that The Gambia is one of the few countries where France wants to close up their embassies,’’ he said.
However, the NRP leader continued: “We can still appeal to the French government and its people not to forget The Gambia.
‘‘We want them to join their other European Union partners who are based in Dakar and those based in Banjul to continuously partner in supporting The Gambia in economic development, democracy and good governance,’’ he said.
Bah further stated that France’s role is extremely important in advancing political pluralism in Africa.
‘‘We, however, respect the views of the French government to normalize their finances, but we continue to praise French and EU leadership in general, and to seek their support in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, among others, which demands a lot of resources,’’ he added.
Source: The Point |
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