Iran promises ostracised Gambia full backing
Dec 07,2006 00:00
by
Anna
Source/Written by : Afrol media africa-The President-elect of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, was elated when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran assured him of his country's full backing. The Gambia sees itself more and more included in a block of ostracised countries, mostly due to President Jammeh's ugly human rights record.
The Iranian President made the assurance when President Jammeh visited Iran. The visit was the first to be taken by the Gambian leader since he had escaped an alleged abortive coup on 21 March 2006.
At a farewell ceremony on Monday, President Ahmadinejad said no amount of pressure from countries would prevent consolidation of the new, deepening ties between Iran and The Gambia.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran supports The Gambia. We strive to settle problems through cooperation and joint efforts for the benefit of our two nations," Iranian National News Agency, 'IRNA' quoted him as saying.
He said the two countries share lots of things in common and that they are subjected to pressure by certain "bullying" powers. "So we will support The Gambia," the Iranian assured his guest.
After the plans were finalised, the Iranian President said his government would allocate aid for the development for the country where poverty continues to bite over 69 percent of the population.
"Iran will provide three credit lines to Gambia for projects to develop its agriculture, industry, infrastructure and energy sectors and boost investment in the country," Mr Ahmadinejad promised.
The Iranian President, who has been pressurised by the West for resuming nuclear activities, said Tehran and Banjul did enjoy "deep-rooted, friendly and sustainable relations". He said Iran and The Gambia have similarities on regional and international developments, particularly on issues facing the Islamic world today.
He said the Gambian delegation had focused in seeking for cooperation in the fields of agriculture, industry, fisheries, energy and education.
President Jammeh, for his part, said his visit to Tehran had become a turning point in friendly relations between the two countries with very constructive results for Banjul. He added that he had received valuable guidelines from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on running the country.
President Jammeh described his Iranian tour as the most successful in history because The Gambia stood to gain "unlimited development". He said Iran enjoyed great potentials, which could be of great help to the development of Africa.
Mr Jammeh told Iranian leaders that Islam plaid a lead role in human lives and that sublime goals of justice and prosperity would be materialised in all states through obedience to divine guidelines. The Iranian state model is known for its strict adherence to conservative interpretations of Islamic law by a self-appointed Muslim supreme council.
The Gambian President also made favourable statements on Iran's Middle East allies. He said Hamas was elected to lead a democratic government in Palestine that deserves to be supported.
The United States had been in the good books of The Gambia until June 2006, when relations were soured by Washington denying the latter to access its Millennium Development Account mainly because of The Gambia's gross violations of human rights, democracy and good governance.
Since then, the Gambian President has consolidated relations with anti-West powers - mainly Iran and Venezuela - who's Presidents were invited as special guests to the African Union Summit in Banjul.
It is no doubt a surprise that President Jammeh is faulting the US policies in Iraq, which he said, had "encouraged genocide".
Mr Jammeh is also reported to have visited permanent exhibition of Iranian Armed Forces that familiarised him with the country's defence capabilities in various fields. "Iran has achieved noticeable advancement in designing and manufacturing various types of advanced weapons and military equipment," the appalled President said, adding that Iran's progress as an independent country is a cause for being proud and happiness.
"We will try our best to take full advantage of these capabilities in a bid to strengthen our own country's defence capabilities," President Jammeh concluded.