Great Quest Congratulates Mali on the 'Historic' Kidal Agreement
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/20/13 -- Great Quest Metals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: GQ) (FRANKFURT: GQM) -
Mali's government has signed a ceasefire agreement with the secular Tuareg MNLA rebels. The new accord allows the Malian authority and its army to return to Kidal, the rebels' final stronghold in northeastern Mali. This is a significant step for Mali's crisis recovery process that removes the last obstacle on the path to country-wide elections scheduled for July 28th, and paves the way for a lasting peace in the country's northern region.
"There is an international consensus, as well as a Malian consensus, on the fundamental questions, which include the integrity of our territory, national unity, and the secular and republican nature of our state", commented Tiebile Drame, head of the Malian delegation to peace talks.
Free and fair elections are necessary to restore peace and stability throughout the country and would end 15 months of interim rule. Democratic elections will set the stage for the national reconciliation process and will unlock foreign aid that has been frozen since the military coup last year. In May 2013, international donors pledged EUR3.25 billion (or $4.31 billion) to support Mali's economic and political reconstruction programme, provided elections are organised.
On July 1st, a UN peacekeeping mission comprising 11,200 military personnel and 1,440 international police are expected to be deployed to maintain stability as French troops withdraw.
Great Quest remains committed to bringing the Tilemsi Phosphate project into production and intends to resume its exploration program in Tilemsi soon after the elections.
"We have only completed drill work on 2% of the total 1,206 km2 Tilemsi land package", says Jed Richardson, Great Quest President and CEO, "and only additional exploratory work will determine the true size of the Tilemsi phosphate deposit and confirm its high natural grade."
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GREAT QUEST METALS LTD.
Jed Richardson - President, CEO & Director
Sources: Associated Press and BBC
About Great Quest
Great Quest Metals Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company with assets in Mali, West Africa. The Company is focused on developing the Tilemsi Phosphate Project, encompassing 1,206 km2 in eastern Mali. To date, the Company has published two resource reports with the total inferred resource now standing at 50 million tonnes at an average grade of 24.3% P2O5 (at 10% cut-off). Phosphate rock from the Tilemsi Project displayed good characteristics for effective beneficiation with assays ranging between 25% and 38% P2O5, and low level of contaminants, especially Cadmium. The Company also holds several gold concessions in the productive Birimian gold belt, in southwestern Mali. Great Quest is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GQ, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol GQM.
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Contacts:
Great Quest Metals Ltd.
Investor Relations
604-689-2882
Toll Free: 1 877-325-3838
