Gambia urges expansion of ties with Iran

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh here on Sunday called for expansion of all-out ties with Iran.

Talking to reporters after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President Jammeh said Tehran-Banjul relations have been growing since 1995.

He underlined the need for joint investment in different fields.

The Gambian government is making great efforts to boost agricultural, scientific, trade and industrial cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, he said, stressing that Banjul is in need of Iran’s assistance in order to solve its various problems.

President Jammeh said there is no restriction for expansion of ties with Iran, saying his country supports all kinds of cooperation with Tehran that would benefit the Gambian nation.

He said a joint communiqué has been issued during his meeting with President Ahmadinejad on expansion of bilateral political, cultural and economic cooperation.

He added that the move would open a new chapter in the two countries' relations.

In the communiqué, the two presidents voiced their support for the oppressed Palestinian nation and underlined the need for establishment of durable peace in the Mideast region.

Meanwhile, President Ahmadinejad invited his Gambian counterpart to visit Iran in the near future. The invitation was warmly accepted by President Jammeh.

President Ahmadinejad, heading a politico-economic delegation started a tour of five African and Latin American states on Sunday which would take him to Gambia and Senegal (African states) and Venezuela, Bolivia and Brazil (Latin American countries).


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