French National Day Celebrated In Banjul Sea Port

14 July, the symbol date of the French Revolution in 1789, and the revolutionary ideal: ‘Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité’ was the foundation of a social change society in France, as in Europe and the world at large.

‘Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité’ was the main motto of the Universal Human Rights Declaration, adopted in 1948, which marked its 60th anniversary at the end of 2008, keeping alive the core values which are today respected throughout the world.

According to the French Chargée d’Affaires in The Gambia, Mme Danielle Robin, “In the context of the financial and economic crisis, as we are faced with challenges more than ever, these values become even more essential and fundamental for the future of the people around the world. This is the reason why every 14th of July, we recall these core values all over the world and also here in The Gambia.

“As far as the relationship between the Republic of The Gambia and the Republic of France is a concern, it is a long-standing one. France has always been an active partner and a friend of the beautiful country of the Smiling Coast of Africa, The Gambia, on multilateral and bilateral aspects, covering a very large range of activities in many areas, namely the support on capacity-building, promotion of development of youths, exchange of educational programmes, promotion of the Francophony in The Gambia, in a spirit of cultural diversity and dialogue, just to name few.

“The occasion was really unique, quiet feeding, unusual and pleasant to celebrate the French National Day in a navy boat in the Gambian sea,” says the American ambassador to The Gambia who attended the ceremony.

Military cooperation is also part and parcel of this relationship.
The Sabre known as EDIC, the navy boat in which the ceremony took place is perfectly equipped for training missions on maritime surveillance, such as fighting against illegal immigration and trafficking.

According to the Commander of the SABRE, Lieutenant de Vaisseau, Pierre-Alban PANCRAZI, the EDIC arrived in the Gambian Port on Sunday 12, of July at 1800 hours.  He said it was based in Dakar since July 2008 for the use of French army in Senegal.
The mission of the SABRE consists of maritime surveillance, fighting illegal immigration, trafficking and promoting France. It is also part of the mission in The Gambia to set a framework for training exercises for the Gambian navy. The SABRE will leave the Gambian waters on Wednesday 15th July 2009, with 10 Gambian navy personnel who will see their French counterparts off.

“Once again, I would like to thank the Commander of the SABRE and his officers for bringing a small part of France to us in the Smiling Coast, to celebrate two events; the first anniversary of the arrival of the SABRE in Africa and on the occasion of the French National Day, sharing it with us and our Gambian friends. Long live the cooperation between The Gambia and France” stated Her Excellency Mme Robin.
Among the Gambian officials who were at the ceremony, included Honourable Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, M. Antuman Saho, representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Gambians living abroad; Dr. Omar Touray, Major General Lang Tombong Tamba, Lt. Commander Jarju of the Gambian Navy, among others.

The members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps were also present.