9th March 2005:

The President of the Republic Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh A.J.J. Jammeh Wednesday received in audience the General Manager of a Turkish business firm ODAK, Mr. Muzaffer Senocak. President Jammeh also took delivery of samples of assorted medical accessories to be presented to Gambian hospitals at a later date.

The General Manager of the firm Mr. Senocak was led to the Office of the President by Secretary of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure Hon. Bala Garba Jahumpa.

In an interview, Mr. Senocak disclosed that the purpose of his audience with the President of the Republic was to finalise plans for the construction of a US $70 million State of the Art Hospital in the Gambia with a capacity of 500 beds. When completed, the new hospital will be fully equipped to carry out major surgery.

It was also revealed that construction works will begin before the end of the year at a site between Tanji and Sanyang Village.

In another development

The President of the Republic received a letter of appreciation from his Taiwanese counterpart through the Ambassador resident in The Gambia.

The letter expressed thanks and gratitude to President Jammeh, his government and people of the Gambia for the "strong support" in bidding for admission to the World Health Organisation WHO and the United Nations.

Speaking in an interview after his audience with the President, the Taiwanese Ambassador Mr. Per-Chi Cang revealed discussions of forthcoming cooperation projects with particular reference to vocational training centres among others to enhance the well being of Gambians.

Ambassador Chang disclosed that the anti secession laws recently passed by the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China is a threat to Taiwan and does not help to enhance peace and security in the Taiwan Strait. He pointed out that ever since his inauguration in 2000 and 2004, the President of China on Taiwan had sent goodwill signals to the People's Republic of China with the hope that the two sides could put their relationship on the drawing board.

President Jammeh finally received the United States Ambassador Mr. Joseph Stafford who reiterated the commitment of the United States Government to promote cooperation and dialogue towards the common interest of the two peoples of the United States and the Gambia.