Tangara, Gambian minister of foreign affairs, international cooperation and Gambians abroad, travelled to İstanbul to attend a private meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gül on Monday.
On his most recent visit to Turkey in October of last year, Tangara met with his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoğlu, to suggest that Turkey could develop a stronger presence in Gambia. He added that Turkey could contribute significantly in the field of education, suggesting at a press conference that the poverty experienced in the resource-rich lands of West Africa stemmed from ignorance. Tangara also met Gül during his previous visit, delivering a message of hope from his country that Turkey would extend support to Gambia by contributing to the establishment of new schools providing a Turkish education and offering assistance in combating drug trafficking in the African nation.
Gambia's first foreign mission in Turkey opened in June 2011. Meanwhile, Turkey is working on the details of its Africa initiative, placing great emphasis on Gambia, with which it already has an agreement in place for the training of the Gambian gendarmerie. The two countries have also developed a roadmap for cooperation in the field of education, including Turkey's plans to build new schools in Gambia over the coming years.
