Press Releases

Yesterday, January 12, 2023, the Head of the Middle East, Gulf and Africa Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Salina Shambos, has completed a two-day schedule of productive meetings in the Gambia, during her visit as the Personal Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ioannis Kasoulides.

On January 11, the Personal Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by the Head of the Africa Department, 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 the meeting, a wide range of issues were discussed with the aim of promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries. They also exchanged views on the role of Cyprus as an EU member state in issues that specifically concern West African countries, the joint response to global challenges and the strengthening of political dialogue in multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

In the context of the meeting, Mr Tangara confirmed the unshakable principled position of the Gambia regarding the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus as well as its support for efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem based on the parameters of the UN Security Council. In addition, the strict adherence of the two countries to the full respect of international law was confirmed. During the meeting, Ms Shambos presented a letter from the President of the Republic to the President of the country.

While in the Gambia, Ms Shambos represented the Republic of Cyprus at the EU-Gambia High Level Political Dialogue, which was attended by a number of member state ambassadors, while on the Gambia side, the majority of the country's Council of Ministers participated, chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. During the all-day meeting, the strengthening and deepening of EU-Gambia cooperation on a number of issues was thoroughly discussed.

Ms Shambos held separate bilateral contacts with Gambian government officials.

(MH)