Nigeria, Gambia Sign Cooperation Agreements

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 31, 2003

Nigeria, Gambia Sign Cooperation Agreements

Nigeria and Gambia on Thursday signed a number of documents to further develop bilateral relations in the capital Abuja.

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Nigeria and Gambia on Thursday signed a number of documents to further develop bilateral relations in the capital Abuja.

The documents signed at the end of three-day session included ageneral agreement on cooperation and friendship, the agreed minutes of the first session of their joint commission, the reciprocal promotion and protection and the bilateral trade agreements in the areas of education, law enforcement, health and agriculture.

Speaking at the end of the session, Dubem Onyia, minister of state for Foreign Affairs, said that during the session the two countries were able to review their relations in a number of areasof mutual interest to them.

"Important decisions have been taken in such areas including education, technical assistance, agriculture, industry, commerce, immigration, prison and police," he said.

"All this will certainly give a new impetus, focus and direction as well as depth to our bilateral economic relations. The stage is therefore now set to break away from the lethargy of the past," he added.

He said the two countries should now prepare themselves for implementation of all the agreements reached and that this would be the acid test of their commitment to the joint commission and the realization of its goals and aspirations.

"The degree to which we are able to implement the decisions of this session of the joint commission will be the greatest testimony of our collective resolve to put our relations on a verysolid and enduring footing," Onyia said.

Responding, Gambia Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Baboucarr Jagne said it was gratifying to note that the first session of the joint commission had made significant achievements in refocusing on cooperation in investment promotion, security anddefense, capacity building and sports, among others.

He said the achievements recorded demonstrated the two countries' commitment to strengthening and expanding their bilateral cooperation and technical assistance program.

Jagne said the political commitment of the two countries' leaders had given expression to "laudable initiative of holding this session within a space of four weeks after their talks, held during President Yahya Jameh's visit to Nigeria last month."

"Where there is a will, there is a way. In the case of Nigeria and the Gambia, the political will exists at the highest politicallevel, the way has now been paved, subsequently, and therefore, wecan say without any fear of contradiction that the sky is the limit," he said.

The inaugural session of Nigeria/Gambia Joint Commission was held in 1985

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