Written by DO          Tuesday, 07 February 2006 
   
      All the country’s political parties have decided to bury the hatchet and work constructively towards national reconciliation and the consolidation of democracy, respect for human rights, the rule of law and good governance.
   
  This historic agreement was reached yesterday at a reconciliation meeting held at the Kairaba Hotel during the two-day working visit of President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to The Gambia.
   
  In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) endorsed by representatives of all the political parties, it is clearly spelt out that political leaders need to work in unison in the higher interest of The Gambia.
   
  All the political leaders have agreed to lean heavily on the side of accommodation because they recognise that The Gambia’s growth and development is anchored on a peaceful and stable political environment founded on an open, diverse and democratic political dispensation.
   
  They also recognise the need for checks and balances, with the present government having on one hand the right to govern within the Constitution and the laws of the country; and the rights of the political opposition to operate freely and to  hold the government to account on the other.
   
  In the spirit of reconciliation, all the political leaders agree that the Office of the President must be given its due dignity and respect, in addition to recognising the political opposition as important partners in national construction and development.
  
They also hold that reconciliation and progress can be achieved through dialogue, cooperation and a constructive national conversation among political parties . 
   
  It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that during the two-day working visit of His Excellency President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to the Republic of The Gambia from 5 to 6 February 2006, a reconciliation meeting was held yesterday, 6 February, 2006, at the Kairaba Hotel, wherein the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (Nadd) and other political parties in The Gambia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
   
  The Memorandum of Understanding in broad terms states thus:
  
i) recognising that a peaceful and stable political environment, underpinned by a transparent, plural and democratic political dispensation is vital for The Gambia’s future prosperity and for the happiness and well-being of her people;
   
  ii) recognising too the legitimacy of the present government and its right to govern within the Constitution and the laws of the land on the one hand; and the rights of the political opposition to operate freely and to hold the government to account on the other hand;
   
  iii) conscious of the dignity and respect that pertains to the Office of the President of the Republic, as Head of State, as well as the role of the political opposition as important partners in national construction and development;
   
  iv) aware that dialogue and cooperation between political parties and a constructive national conversation with the Gambian people represent key cornerstones in the consolidation of democracy in The Gambia.
   
  In this connection, the leaders of the above-mentioned parties agreed to put the past behind them, and in the higher interest of The Gambia, to work constructively towards national reconciliation and the consolidation of democracy, respect for human rights, the rule of law and good governance in The Gambia.
   
  They also agreed in this context to work positively and cooperatively towards the holding of transparent and credible elections for the presidency in 2006, in which the will of the people will be reflected and accepted by all the contesting political parties and the people of The Gambia.
   
  The Memorandum of Understanding also specified in broad terms a code of conduct, alongside that of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), to guide the activities of the political parties in general and their conduct in the lead up to the 2006 Presidential elections in particular.
   
  As a mark of reconciliation, His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia Alhaji Dr Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh and Leader of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction Party (APRC), the governing party in The Gambia, declared that he has dropped all the criminal charges against Honourable Halifa Sallah, Messrs Hamat Bah and Omar Jallow, alias O.J.
   
    Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 February 2006 ) 
		
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