{"id":8425,"date":"2013-08-16T01:40:08","date_gmt":"2013-08-16T01:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/jonathan-urges-african-leaders-to-promote-democracy\/"},"modified":"2013-08-16T01:40:08","modified_gmt":"2013-08-16T01:40:08","slug":"jonathan-urges-african-leaders-to-promote-democracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/jonathan-urges-african-leaders-to-promote-democracy\/","title":{"rendered":"Jonathan urges African leaders to promote democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2022 Gets highest Mali honour<\/strong><\/p>\n

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan Thursday restated the commitment of Nigeria towards ensuring a vibrant political and economic relationship with other African countries. To achieve this objective, he believed that African countries must continue to make the necessary sacrifice for the growth of the continent.<\/p>\n

  The President made the remark at the Presidential Villa after being conferred with the highest national honour of Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali by the Government of the Republic of Mali in appreciation of the roles played by Nigeria and her leader towards ensuring the return of democracy to that country.<\/p>\n

  The decision to award Jonathan with the highest honour, according to the Interim President of  Mali, Prof. Diogunda Traore, was to show appreciation to Nigeria and the President as a person for the huge sacrifice made by Nigeria towards an early restoration of democracy to his country.<\/p>\n

  Speaking through an interpreter, the Malian leader said, \u201c We know how much your country suffers also from terrorism. We know how much Nigeria has needs of its troops, of her soldiers and all the soldiers at her disposal to ensure internal security against forces of evil, who have continued to attack innocent citizens. However, in spite of this internal need and pressure, your country has not hesitated to put at the disposal of Mali her soldiers and her logistics.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, thanks to you for your solidarity besides your neighbours and the solidarity of ECOWAS and African Union as well as the international community, Mali has found peace again, Mali has found again her unity and her democracy which were compromised for long months.\u201d<\/p>\n

  Jonathan described the award to him as a symbol of smooth and vibrant relationship between Nigeria and Mali and stressed the need for it to be sustained. His words: \u201cYour presence here today as well as the highest honour which you have bestowed on me, both attest to the vibrancy and the relationship that exists between the government and the people of Mali and Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n

  Also, President Jonathan stressed yesterday the need for improved economic relations to deepen bilateral ties between Argentina and Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

Receiving letters of credence from the new Ambassador of Argentina to Nigeria, Mr. Gustavo Alejandro Dzugala and the new High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Nigeria, Mr. Panagoda Don Prince Solomon Anura Liyanage, at separate audiences in the State House, President Jonathan said while Nigeria had good diplomatic ties with these countries, the economic relations needed to be strengthened.<\/p>\n

  A statement from the office of his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati quoted the President as observing, \u201cWhile the economic diplomatic ties with the countries are strong, the linkages are weak and as such everything possible must be done to boost economic ties.\u201d<\/p>\n

  The Argentinian Ambassador said during his audience that President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was desirous of improving relations with Nigeria and had approved the building of a permanent embassy in Abuja as a demonstration of that commitment. He also disclosed that a high-level trade delegation from Argentina would soon visit Nigeria.<\/p>\n

  Meanwhile, Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu yesterday also congratulated Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. <\/p>\n

Reacting to the official result of the run-off of presidential election released earlier on Thursday, Ekweremadu also hailed the people of Mali and the ECOWAS for keeping democracy on track in the West African nation. <\/p>\n

  He said: \u201cThe eventual triumph of democracy and stability over separatism, military brigandage, and insurgence in Mali is indeed a milestone for good governance, peace, and security for the entire West Africa. <\/p>\n

  \u201cIt is the hope of the ECOWAS Parliament that the president-elect will give the people of Mali a fatherly, transparent, and deeply democratic leadership that will give every segment of the society a sense of belonging irrespective of ethno-political leanings, restore total stability, strengthen democracy institutions, and put the nation on the path of fast recovery and lasting development.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: Guardian Newspaper<\/p>\n

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