TEXT OF SPEECH GIVEN BY AMBASSADOR SCOTT UPON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANJUL 000468


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL GA US
SUBJECT: TEXT OF SPEECH GIVEN BY AMBASSADOR SCOTT UPON
PRESENTATION OF HIS CREDENTIALS AND THE RESPONSE BY
CHAIRMAN JAMMEH

REF: BANJUL 467


1. FOLLOWING ARE THE REMARKS MADE BY AMBASSADOR GERALD

W. SCOTT UPON PRESENTATION OF HIS CREDENTIALS ON
FEBRUARY 16.

QUOTE: MR. CHAIRMAN: I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT TO
YOUR EXCELLENCY AS CHIEF OF STATE THE LETTER OF RECALL
OF MY PREDECESSOR AND WITH IT THE LETTER FROM MY
PRESIDENT ACCREDITING ME TO YOU AND TO THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE GAMBIA AS HIS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE.

I AM GREATLY HONORED BY THIS RESPONSIBILITY AND I WISH
TO ASSURE YOUR EXCELLENCY OF MY PERSONAL DESIRE TO
PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE TIES OF FRIENDSHIP AND
COOPERATION BETWEEN OUR TWO NATIONS.

IN EXERCISING THIS RESPONSIBILITY I HOPE TO ACQUIRE A
WIDE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE GAMBIA AND TO
COME TO KNOW ITS PEOPLE -- WHOSE MARKED VIRTUE AND
FRIENDLY CHARACTER HAVE BEEN ATTESTED BY ALL TO WHOM I
HAVE SPOKEN. BUT IT WILL BE MY SPECIAL DESIRE,
EXCELLENCY, TO FOSTER CLEAR AND HELPFUL COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN MY GOVERNMENT AND YOURS. IN DOING SO, IT WILL
BE MY ENDEAVOR TO CONVEY MY GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS WITH
ACCURACY AND TO REPORT FAITHFULLY THE VIEWS OF YOUR
EXCELLENCY AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GAMBIA.

IN SPITE OF THE BEST INTENTIONS OF MEN OF GOOD WILL, WE
LIVE IN A TROUBLED WORLD. THE REGION OF WEST AFRICA HAS
NOT ESCAPED THE FLAIL OF CIVIL WAR. IT IS WITH A
SPECIAL FEELING OF RESPONSIBILITY, THEREFORE, THAT I
ARRIVE TO REPRESENT MY GOVERNMENT BEFORE YOU, THE LEADER
OF A NATION AT PEACE WITH ITS NEIGHBORS AND A NATION
WHICH CAN ACT TO PROMOTE PEACE, STABILITY AND
RECONCILIATION IN THE REGION. I WISH ESPECIALLY TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRIVILEGE OF ASSISTING AT A KEY MOMENT
IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAMBIA AS GAMBIANS PROCEED IN THE
NEXT FEW MONTHS UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP TO ESTABLISH A NEW
CONSTITUTION AND A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY. IT IS THE
EARNEST HOPE OF MY GOVERNMENT THAT THIS TRANSITION WILL
LEAD TO AN ERA OF PEACE, PROSPERITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
THE CITIZENS OF THE GAMBIA.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GAMBIA AND THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EACH IN ITS
OWN WAY, SEEK THE GOOD OF ITS OWN PEOPLE AND OF THE
LARGER WORLD. OUR COUNTRIES HAVE MANY GOALS IN COMMON
AND MANY AREAS IN WHICH WE CAN BE OF MUTUAL SUPPORT. IT
IS POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL DISAGREE UPON OCCASION, BUT I
PLEDGE TO WEIGH CAREFULLY AND FULLY ANY VIEWS YOUR
EXCELLENCY OR YOUR GOVERNMENT'S MINISTERS MAY OFFER.
AND SHOULD THERE BE A DIVERGENCE OF VIEW, IT WILL BE MY
ENDEAVOR TO ASSURE THAT THESE ARE COUCHED IN THE TERMS
OF RESPECT AND MODERATION THAT ARE APPROPRIATE TO
EXCHANGES BETWEEN TWO NATIONS OF SUCH LONG-STANDING
FRIENDSHIP.

MR. CHAIRMAN, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN AN ERA IN
WHICH THE FOSTERING OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT,
THE NURTURING OF RESPONSIBLE AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT,
AND THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES ARE GOALS
UNIVERSALLY PROCLAIMED. THE GAMBIA AND THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA BOTH WORK TOWARDS THESE OBJECTIVES.
AS WE DO SO, I BEG YOU TO COUNT ON THE SYMPATHY AND
COOPERATION OF MY GOVERNMENT. AND I PARTICULARLY ASK
THAT YOU COUNT ON ME AND MY EMBASSY TO ASSIST IN
WHATEVER WAY IS APPROPRIATE TO SUPPORT PROGRESS TOWARDS
THE MANY GOALS COMMON TO US BOTH. END QUOTE.


2. RESPONSE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AFPRC AND HEAD OF
STATE, CAPTAIN YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH:

QUOTE: MR. AMBASSADOR, IN ACCEPTING YOUR LETTERS OF
CREDENCE, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR
APPOINTMENT AS AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND
PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I ALSO
ACCEPT THE LETTERS OF RECALL OF YOUR PREDECESSOR.
I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT YOU ARE DETERMINED TO
PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE TIES OF FRIENDSHIP AND
COOPERATION BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES. THE GAMBIA AND
THE UNITED STATES HAVE TRADITIONALLY ENJOYED DECADES OF
FRUITFUL AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONS. IT IS OUR
SINCERE HOPE THAT SUCH COOPERATION WILL REMAIN THE BASIS
FOR STILL CLOSER TIES AND INTERACTIONS IN AS MANY AREAS
AS POSSIBLE.

MR. AMBASSADOR, I WELCOME YOUR INTENTION TO FOSTER
UNBIASED AND HELPFUL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE GAMBIA. MAINTAINING OBJECTIVE LINES OF
COMMUNICATION IS AN IMPORTANT PREREQUISITE IN THE
CORDIAL AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF THE MULTIFACETED
RELATIONS BETWEEN ANY TWO COUNTRIES. ON THE CONTRARY,
BIASED AND SENSATIONAL REPORTING DELIBERATELY AIMED AT
DESTABILISATION, CREATES SUSPICION WHICH IN TURN
ADVERSELY AFFECTS BILATERAL RELATIONS. I THEREFORE
WELCOME YOUR SCOPE AND BREADTH OF VISION. THERE MAY AT
TIMES BE DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS ON
CERTAIN MATTERS OF COMMON INTEREST, BUT WE SHOULD
HEARTILY AGREE TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.
OUR PERSPECTIVES AND SOCIAL ONTOLOGY MAY BE DIFFERENT,
BUT WE HAVE A COMMONALITY OF INTENT TO DO WHAT IS BEST
FOR OUR RESPECTIVE PEOPLES.

AS TWO SOVEREIGN NATIONS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CATER
FOR EACH OTHER'S NUANCES; EACH OTHER'S SOVEREIGN RIGHT
AS A STATE MUST BE RESPECTED, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE
PECULIARITIES OF OUR SOCIO-ECONOMIC HISTORY AND THE
PREVAILING CIRCUMSTANCES. WE MUST HAVE MUTUAL RESPECT
FOR EACH OTHER'S SOVEREIGNTY IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SIZE
AND ECONOMIC POWER OF THE COUNTRY CONCERNED. WHAT IS
IMPORTANT IS THE PEOPLE OF CITIZENS OF THAT COUNTRY WHO
HAVE THE INALIENABLE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT WITHOUT EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE. THE GAMBIA IS
NO EXCEPTION.

MR. AMBASSADOR, YOU ASSUME YOUR DUTIES AT A TIME WHEN
THE GAMBIA IS GOING THROUGH THE MOST CRUCIAL TURNING-
POINT IN ITS HISTORY SINCE INDEPENDENCE. THOMAS
JEFFERSON, ONE OF THE PIONEERING SPIRITS WHO GAVE BIRTH
TO SOME OF THE GREATEST IDEALS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY,
WAS EMPHATIC THAT A GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT
REPRESENTATIVE OF ITS PEOPLE DESERVES TO BE THROWN OUT.
WE DID JUST THAT.

SINCE WE TOOK OVER THE REINS OF GOVERNMENT ON JULY 22ND
1994, THE ARMED FORCES PROVISIONAL RULING COUNCIL HAS
BEEN DILIGENTLY IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAMME OF
RECTIFICATION AND A TIMETABLE FOR A TRANSITION TO
DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONAL RULE BY JULY 1996. WE HAVE
NOT MET ALL THE SCHEDULED DEADLINES ON TIME BUT ALL THE
NECESSARY EFFORT IS BEING MADE WITH CONSIDERABLE
SUCCESS. MOST OF OUR PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WILL
BE COMPLETED WELL BEFORE THE ELECTIONS; AND ON THE
GOVERNANCE TIMETABLE MOST OF THE MAJOR STEPS TOWARDS THE
ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

ACCORDINGLY, ONCE AGAIN, WE URGE ALL FRIENDLY COUNTRIES
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CHERISH THE IDEALS OF TRUE
DEMOCRACY TO ASSIST THE GAMBIA IN WHICHEVER WAY THEY CAN
IN THE TRANSITION TO DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONAL RULE
BASED ON SOCIAL JUSTICE.

IN CONCLUSION, LET ME AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR
ASSIGNMENT WELCOME YOU ONCE AGAIN TO THE GAMBIA AND
REASSURE YOU OF MY FULL SUPPORT AND THAT OF THE ENTIRE
GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF THE GAMBIA IN THE
ACCOMPLISHMENT OF YOUR IMPORTANT MISSION.

I SINCERELY HOPE THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GAMBIA AND
THE UNITED STATES WILL BE IMPROVED UPON DURING YOUR TERM
OF OFFICE. I THANK YOU. UNQUOTE.


SCOTT