PRESS RELEASE
Saturday November 20th 2004

On the invitation of His Excellency the President, GENERAL LANSANA CONTE, President of the Republic of Guinea, His Excellency President Kabbah of Sierra Leone paid a two-day working and friendly visit to the Republic of Guinea from Friday, from 19th to 20th November 2004.

In appreciating the hard work and courage of the people in rural areas visited, President Kabbah noted that the people of Guinea are persevering and hardworking. He also noted that development opportunities should be evenly distributed throughout the country. This Guinean example should serve as an inspiration to the brotherly people of Sierra Leone by embracing farming which does not fail.

During his stay President AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH visited the agro-based industries in the Tanene and Koba districts. On that occasion, he praised the scope and quality of agricultural activities undertaken by his brother and friend, His Excellency, General LANSANA CONTE.

President AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH observed that the patriotism bequeathed by the late President AHMED SEKOU TOURE has been maintained and strengthened by his able successor, General LANSANA CONTE. Based on this, he has created an atmosphere of prosperity for his people through his personal example and his Government development policies. The enthusiasm demonstrated by the people in the areas visited is clear proof of their commitment to him and to his policies.

In the course of their discussions the two Heads of State reviewed the problems of the sub-region and discussed bilateral issues. They reaffirmed their support to the reactivation of the Mano River Union and expressed their desire to use it as an instrument for the exchange of experience on economic development, social and political integration. The two Heads of State appreciated the reopening of the Koindu International Market established in 1932, coincidentally President Kabbah's year of birth, and hoped that the reopening will take place on the occasion of celebrating the 73rd birthday anniversary of President Kabbah.

At the bilateral level the two Heads of State reaffirmed their commitment to pursue a brotherly and peaceful solution to the border issue along the Makona-Moa River in conformity with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Conakry on 2nd September 2004 which stipulates that the village of Yenga belongs to the Republic of Sierra Leone and that the Makona-Moa River belongs to the Republic of Guinea as contained in the Anglo-French Treaty of 1912, and renewed by the 1974 Agreement between Sierra Leone and Guinea.

In this connection, the two Heads of State encouraged the joint Committee of experts of pursue their work in a brotherly and friendly spirit. The two Heads of State encouraged the members of Parliament of the respective Kissi ethnic groups from the three countries of the Mano River Union to hold a meeting in Sierra Leone on 25 February 2005 in the hope of consolidating their fraternal ties.

The two Heads of State, anxious about stability in the Sub-region, expressed their concern about the worsening crisis in Côte d'Ivoire. They affirmed the preparedness of the Mano River Union to work towards finding an early solution to the crisis in that sister country. President GENERAL LANSANA CONTE and DR. AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH agreed to consult the Government of Liberia for the choice of a venue and date of the next Summit of the Mano River Union.

President AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH, having warmly thanked his brother and friend GENERAL LANSANA CONTE for the kind hospitality accorded him and members of his delegation, extended an invitation to GENERAL LANSANA CONTE to pay an official visit to the Republic of Sierra Leone on a date to be fixed through diplomatic channel.

Done at Moussaya CRD Tanene
Prefecture of Dubréka
Republic of Guinea, November 20th, 2004