22nd October 2003:

President Henrique Pereira Rosa, the Interim head of state of Guinea Bissau has praised the Gambia for its continued support, especially in moments of crisis. The Interim president, who made this remark at the conclusion of a two day working visit to the Gambia told reporters in a news conference in Banjul that his country could count on the Gambia's unflinching support at all times.

The Guinea Bissau President embarked on a sub-regional diplomatic initiative to rally support in order to bail his country out of its present crisis. During his two day visit, President Rosa held meetings with the private sector and also visited key business installations in and around the Greater Banjul area, among them GAMCEL and AFRICELL installations as well as Gamwater and TAF Housing Estate in Yundum.

At a news conference, Friday shortly before his departure the Interim leader said Guinea Bissau needs peace and stability now more than anything else and therefore called on leaders in the sub region and the international community to assist Guinea Bissau.

President Jammeh for his part described Gambia-Guinea Bissau relations as one that spans back into the precolonial era and that the Gambia would continue to render unalloyed support. President Jammeh described Guinea Bissau as one of the Gambia's most important trading partners in the sub-region. President Rosa called on the Gambian business and private sector to invest more in his country.

In a final communiqué signed at the end of the visit, the two leaders reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen the cordial bonds of bilateral ties and to work towards fostering international peace and understanding. The two leaders expressed support for the peace initiative in Liberia and also expressed a common position on terrorism and global conflicts.

It could be recalled that President Henrique Pereira Rosa assumed office at the head of an interim administration following the overthrow of President Kumba Yalla's government early this year. The army chief of staff who led the coup surrendered power to Rosa's transitional administration, which would see the country through elections in one year.