US Ambassador Richard C. Paschall on Friday briefed Foreign Minister Dr Momodou Tangara on President Joe Biden’s Executive Actions on the World Health Organization and other aspects of the global COVID-19 battle, border security, and rejoining the Paris Climate Accords.
The foreign ministry put out a statement of the meeting saying Foreign Minister Tangara used the opportunity to “convey messages of best wishes and congratulations from His Excellency President Adama Barrow and Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray to His Excellency President Joe Biden and Vice President Her Excellency Kamala Harris”.
The statement added: “He (Dr Tangara) expressed optimism that there would be a new rise of multilateralism that would yield greater social and economic prosperity and security. He said the Biden administration’s decision to reposition the US in the World Health Organisation, rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and enforcing border security renewed confidence among nations. He said The Gambia is looking forward to strengthening bilateral relations with the United States in areas captured in the National Development Plan (NDP) of The Gambia.
“For his part, the Ambassador of the United States, H.E. Richard C. Paschall, informed Foreign Minister Tangara that the US has rejoined the Paris Climate Accord and reengaged with the World Health Organisation (WHO). He said President Biden issued a proclamation to reverse the banning of citizens of certain Muslim countries from entering the United States amongst others.
“Ambassador Paschall said the US will revive development assistance programmes that were stopped as a result of the autocratic nature in which The Gambia was governed during the past 22 years. He assured that more engagements would be done with the Ministry of Health and support will be given to a lot of areas in the National Development Plan (NDP) of the Government of The Gambia. These amongst other pertinent issues were the subject of their discussion.”
