Yesterday, 12 January 2023, the two-day visit to The Gambia of the Personal Envoy of Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Director for Middle East, Gulf and Africa, Ms Salina Shiabou, during which she held a series of productive meetings, concluded.
On 11 January, the Personal Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by the Africa Section Chief Mr. Venezis and the Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Cyprus and The Gambia, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia Mr. Mamadou Tangara. During this meeting, a wide range of issues were discussed with a view to promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries. Views were also exchanged on the role of Cyprus as an EU Member State on issues concerning in particular West African countries, the joint response to global challenges and the strengthening of political dialogue in multilateral fora such as the United Nations and the Commonwealth.
In the context of the meeting, Mr. Tangara reaffirmed Gambia's firm principled stand on the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus as well as its support for efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN Security Council parameters. In addition, the two countries' strict commitment to full respect for international law was reaffirmed. During the meeting, Mrs Diamantopoulou handed over a letter from the President of the Republic to the President of the country.
During her presence in The Gambia, Mrs Diamantopoulou represented the Republic of Cyprus at the EU-Gambia High Level Political Dialogue, which was attended by a number of ambassadors of Member States, while on the Gambian side, the majority of the country's Council of Ministers, chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated. During the day-long meeting, the strengthening and deepening of EU-Gambia cooperation on a number of issues was thoroughly discussed.
Ms. Shiabu held separate bilateral contacts and meetings with Gambian Government officials.
(SX)
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