Deputies at the National Assembly Wednesday unanimously considered and adopted the Amendment Protocol No.1 of the military training co-operation between The Gambia and Turkey.

The agreement which among other things aims to establish and enhance co-operation between the two governments in the military fields of training, technique and science was tabled before lawmakers by the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy.

While introducing the document for consideration before the House, VP Njie-Saidy highlighted the significant benefits both countries stand to gain from the agreement, particularly The Gambia.

“The governments of The Gambia and Turkey herein after referred to as the parties as highlighted in Article I of the Protocol have agreed to amend the Article IV relating to financial matters of the military training cooperation agreement signed on March 23rd, 1990 and additional agreement concerning the amendment of some articles on the training co-operation agreement which was signed in May, 1992 between the two parties concerned,” she said, adding that Article II where the parties agreed that Article VI which says payments and expenses is also amended as follows: Article VI financial matters said: The receiving parties shall decide whether the following trainings payments related to military are with charge or free of charge or on a discount rate.

For the Cadets, according to the VP, it involves boarding, lodging, daily allowances (i.e terms and amounts to be determined by receiving parties), training and education cost, dress based on those allowances established by the receiving parties for it equivalent Cadets.

“For officers and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), their monthly salary terms and amount is to be determined by the receiving parties and according to the ranks of the training officers and NCOs. Their training education cost; dress only worn by trainee officers and NCOs during the course hours based on the allowances paid to equivalent officers and NCOs receiving parties,” said VP, while adding noting that Article III states that the Protocol shall enter into force on the date of the receipt of last written notification by which the parties inform each other through diplomatic channels and that the internal legal procedures be quite for entry into force of these protocols have been completed by all parties concerned.

In her submission, VP reminded the members of the date of signing of the protocol, which she said was on the 24th June, 2011 in Banjul and in two copies, English and in Turkish with all text authenticated, requiring the stamp of approval of the National Assembly.

The Majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East seconded the motion soon after it was moved by the vice president. In his contribution, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta urged his colleagues not to debate on the agreement as it is a non- controversial one, which was heeded to; as no other intervention follows that.

During the same sitting yesterday, members also ratified the Parliamentary Friendship Agreement between the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Assembly ofThe Gambia.

The agreement among other things seeks to formally establish a solid parliamentary friendship that shall clearly define areas and levels of strategic bilateral parliamentary alliance; a partnership and cooperation which is aimed at providing a high-level forum for mutual and technical assistance to each other and to pave a way to create a forum and framework for complementing, coordinating and expanding on existing special bilateral ties and relations that so happily exist between the governments of The Gambia and Nigeria.