Tag: Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid

Maldives FM, Elected To Top UN Post, Says Domestic Opposition Is Playing a ‘Geopolitical Football’ Game

Wearing his original hat, Abdulla Shahid criticised the Maldivian opposition for politicising any steps taken by India in the archipelago nation.

New Delhi: After being elected with an overwhelming mandate, the new president-elect of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdulla Shahid, has several heavy-duty items on his to-do list – from the revival of the UN’s main body to equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Earlier this week, the Maldivian foreign minister polled 143 votes to become the president of the 76th session of the UNGA. He will be leading the UN’s main body for the next year, as the world and the multilateral body hope to slowly recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. His one-year term will begin on September 14.

While the Security Council has the power to issue binding resolutions, the UNGA has more of a “moral authority” as it speaks on behalf of the entire membership, rather than being the mouthpiece of the permanent powers.

In a phone interview to The Wire, Shahid explained his vision for the UNGA and underlined the need for greater coordination with other organs like the United Nations Security Council. He also stated that he would be consulting with UN member states to draw up “concrete proposals” for addressing the urgent issue of unequal distribution of coronavirus vaccines.

With New Delhi sharing a close relationship with the Ibrahim Solih administration, India had been an early supporter of Shahid’s candidature. Afghanistan’s Zalmai Rassoul threw in his hat in the ring a couple of months later. However, Shahid’s longer campaign and the fact that a Maldivian has never been president of the General Assembly (PGA) propelled him to an overwhelming victory on June 7.

India had a testy relationship with the incumbent PGA, Turkey’s Volkan Bozkir, whose remarks on Kashmir during a visit to Pakistan raised hackles in New Delhi. So it will undoubtedly make a difference for New Delhi to have a friendlier face at the helm of the UNGA. After his victory, Shahid also announced that India’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, K. Nagaraj Naidu, will be his chief of staff.

One of the roles of the PGA is to facilitate intergovernmental negotiations for reforming the Security Council, which is an important priority for India. However, Shahid cautions that his part is limited, as the majority of the member states lead the direction and pace.

During his term, he will also continue to serve as the Maldives’ foreign minister. Wearing his original hat, Shahid criticised the Maldivian opposition for politicising any steps taken by India in the archipelago nation.

Recently, India proposed the opening of a consulate on the island of Addu. This led to immediate outrage from the opposition. So far, President Solih has said that it was still being considered. Shahid asserted that the opposition’s “destructive politics” will not be allowed to impact relations with other countries.

Here are excerpts from the interview, edited for clarity.

While the UNGA is the main body of the UN, it has always been under the shadow of the UNSC. Do you think that the UN charter and rules give scope for the UNGA to take a more frontline role?

The UN charter is very clear that the Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. However, in 1950, a resolution was passed that allowed the General Assembly to override the Security Council and immediately take up a matter. It has been convened 11 times in UN history.

How do you foresee the relationship between the UNGA and UNSC?

The president of the General Assembly meets for monthly consultations with presidents of ECOSOC [United Nations Economic and Social Council] and the Security Council. That is an ongoing process, and I intend to report on the consultations to the membership. I think greater coordination within the principal organs of the United Nations is of utmost importance for the smooth functioning of the organisation.

Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon addresses a UN General Assembly meeting ahead of a vote on a draft resolution that would deplore the use of excessive force by Israeli troops against Palestinian civilians at UN headquarters in New York, US, June 13, 2018. Credit: Reuters/Mike Segar

Representative image of the UN General Assembly. Photo: Reuters/Mike Segar

In your vision statement, you mentioned that UNGA needs to be revitalised – but at the same time, you observed that it already had a substantial agenda. What steps do you plan to suggest to increase the UNGA’s visibility and bring transparency to the process?

The UN revitalisation project has to be a continuous process. It has to be a dynamic process. I think that it cannot ever stop because it has to continuously move forward to adapt and address the emerging realities. There is an ongoing process for the revitalisation of the United Nations. There is a committee. They are supposed to submit their report soon. As soon as the report is there, we will be able to address some of the revitalisation issues.

As I said, I am waiting for this report that the secretary-general will submit, and the discussions will be carried forward based on this report by the members.

When it comes to reforming the UNSC, the UNGA does have a substantial role, as the PGA can give some direction to inter-governmental negotiations. Would you be looking at starting text-based negotiations for UNSC reforms during your tenure? What other changes would you like to bring to this process?

On the security council reform issue, the role of the PGA is to appoint facilitators, which I will be appointing. But the way forward, the manner in which they move, is dependent on the membership. It is not the PGA who directs on how the negotiation will move forward. The PGA will find facilitators, and once the facilitators are there, the members of the United Nations will decide on the manner in which they move forward. Basically, I can’t instruct the process as PGA.

What has been the Maldives’ national position on UNSC reforms?

The Maldives is one of the first ten countries which, way back in the 1970s, submitted to the United Nations to include an agenda item for SC reform. The Maldives has been consistently and persistently advocating for the reform process to be expedited.

Since recovering sustainably from the COVID-19 pandemic is one of your priorities, what powers as the PGA will you be able to exercise to address issues like inequity in vaccine distribution?

The current PGA and the secretary-general have initiated the ‘vaccine for all’ process. I will be taking it forward. But, I will also be meeting with the membership during the next three months and come up with concrete proposals, which will be acceptable to them, so that the United Nations could collectively come together in promoting vaccine for all.

I believe that we have to get the vaccine. We have to get the world vaccinated. Without that, there can be no recovery.

But can the UN take any tangible steps that will be binding and alleviate the situation?

On the mandate of the UN General Assembly, the charter is very clear. The enforcement comes through the Security Council. The General Assembly has the moral authority of the entire world – 193 countries coming together.

Speaking about moral authority, your predecessors have often taken the initiative on discussing a contemporary crisis, especially with the UNSC deadlocked. For example, on Palestine and Myanmar. Do you think that that you will also do the same?

It depends on the issues. I think that it will be unfair for me to make a general statement on these issues. These are mandates and procedures clearly set in the charter of the United Nations… so that each individual issue is dealt with, case by case. I cannot and should not make a blanket statement on such issues.

You have mentioned that the PGA should have a neutral role in contentious disputes. How will that apply to long-standing disputes on the UN agenda like Palestine and Kashmir?

Because the PGA is supposed to be impartial as per the code of ethics, it is not the PGA who has to decide. It is the membership that has to decide. The PGA is like the speaker of the house. He is impartial.

Do you believe India has been pivotal in securing your landslide win in the elections?

India was one of the first countries to openly support me. I am very grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S. Jaishankar for the support. Especially, since two countries in South Asia were contesting against each other. So, India’s public statement obviously helped me, within the SAARC region and internationally. Many, many other countries came out later. The large mandate that the Maldives has got this time shows the international standing that the Maldives has achieved under the new government of President Solih.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives Abdulla Shahid. Photo: Twitter/@MEAIndia

Why have India-Maldives relations become such a controversial domestic political issue?

I think the opposition is trying to play a geopolitical football game as it used to when they were in government. The opposition has no agenda. They have no foreign policy. They have no engagement with any international friendship. They don’t have what it takes to be engaged internationally. That is what we saw during their presidency. They left the commonwealth. They severed diplomatic relations with countries. They fell out with all the neighbours. Everyone. All because they were trying to play one against the other.

That is the same game that they are playing when they are in opposition as well. They should stop it and not try to play friends against each other. For the current government, we only have friends. We don’t have enemies.

We have a special relationship with India, as India has come to our assistance every time and every difficulty that the country has faced. Most recently, with the COVID-19 pandemic, within 48 hours of the Indian vaccine rollout in India, the vaccine reached Maldivian shores.

All this is there because we work closely with all the countries. We have got vaccines from India. We have got vaccines from China. We are friends with everyone. But, the opposition has no policies. The only thing they can do is play one against each other – and they have failed at that too.

Do you think that the Maldives government’s decision making on the Indian consulate proposal will be impacted by these political considerations?

I think when you bring it down to that very narrow level of decision making, that does not fit the relationship that we have with India. We will not let anybody play destructive politics when it comes to relationship with either India or any other country. We will engage with all countries.

India Congratulates Maldivian FM on Being Elected President of 76th Session of UNGA

India announced its support for Shahid during the visit of foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to the Maldives in November 2020.

New Delhi: India on Monday congratulated Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid on his election as the President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, saying it looked forward to working with him to strengthen multilateralism.

“Heartiest felicitations to Foreign Minister of Maldives @abdulla_shahid on his election as President for 76th UN General Assembly,” external affairs minister S. Jaishankar tweeted.

India supported foreign minister Shahid’s candidature to the prestigious post.

“This is a testimony as much to his own stature as to the standing of Maldives. We look forward to working with him to strengthen multilateralism and its much needed reforms,” Jaishankar said in another tweet.

Shahid has been elected the President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly (PGA) with an overwhelming majority.

It is a post held on an annual basis, rotated amongst various regional groupings.

The 76th session (2021-22) is the turn of the Asia-Pacific group.

The Maldives had announced Shahid’s candidature in December 2018. At that time, no other candidate was in the fray.

Also read: UNSC Watch: Antonio Guterres Poised for 2nd Term; Stage Set for New Council Members

India announced its support for Shahid during the visit of foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to the Maldives in November 2020.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives Abdulla Shahid. Photo: Twitter/@MEAIndia

Even at that time, he was the only candidate in the fray, sources said.

In mid-January 2021, in a surprising development and less than six months before the elections, Afghan foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul entered the fray.

While Rassoul also has strong credentials, by the time his candidature was announced, the Maldives had already garnered extensive support, the sources said.

“Moreover, Maldives has never held the office of PGA, while Afghanistan has held this post during the 21st GA session in 1966-67,” said a source.

“Both Maldives and Afghanistan have excellent relations with India, and both candidates are friends of India. However, since India had already committed its support to the Maldives at a time when no other candidate was in the fray, India voted in favour of Maldives,” the source said.

The PGA’s office is the highest office in the UN System, and reflects the collective goodwill of the 193 member states of the UN.

The sources said India remained committed to supporting the office of the PGA, as it has consistently done in previous years.

After Fire at SBI and Anti-India Protests, Maldives Beefs up Security for Indian High Commission

The government handed over the security of the diplomatic premises from the police to Maldives National Defence Forces.

New Delhi: After a major fire damaged the office of the State Bank of India and opposition parties held a major rally through the streets of the capital against Indian development projects, the Maldives government on Saturday upgraded the security of the Indian high commission in Malé by handing over the perimeter to Maldivian defence forces.

Indian sources confirmed that Maldives had handed over the security of the diplomatic premises from the police to Maldives National Defence Forces. This is the first time that armed security personnel will be guarding the Indian diplomatic mission, since Maldivian police had been unarmed.

It is learnt that the Maldives government had increased the security on their own. There had been no request from the Indian side.

Sources stated that the Maldivian government had beefed up the security following a massive fire at a high rise building, half of whose floors are occupied by State Bank of India on Friday night. “We don’t know yet if it was an accident or sabotage. The police investigation is going on, but the government thought it prudent to increase security for Indian diplomatic assets,” a senior Indian official told The Wire.

In a statement, SBI Maldives, which is one of the biggest banks in the Indian ocean nation, stated that there was “substantial damage” in all the five floors that housed its offices. However, the bank announced that it would resume banking services on Sunday.

Besides the fire, the threat perception to the Indian high commission had also increased due to a high-voltage rally by the opposition on the same day, sources stated.

Also read: Maldives: India Bids to Overtake China in Funding ‘High Visibility’ Infrastructure

Earlier on Friday, the opposition coalition of Progressive Party of Maldives and People’s National Congress held a number of rallies across the nation to protest the so-called “selling off Maldives” to India.

In the capital, around 350 motorcyclists came out onto the streets with banners and flags, which was a major show of strength by the opposition in the small nation. The opposition demonstrations were also demanding the release of former President Abdula Yameen, who is currently in jail on money-laundering charges.

“Most of these motorcyclists were part of the gangs who had been patronised by the previous regime. So if anti-social elements are on back on the streets, increasing security of Indian assets becomes vital,” added diplomatic sources.

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and former president Mohamed Nasheed arrive at an election campaign rally ahead of their parliamentary election on Saturday, in Male, Maldives April 4, 2019. Photo: Reuters/ Ashwa Faheem

Maldives foreign ministry sources added that the motorcycle rally was being held in “direct contravention of the guidelines put in place by the Health Protection Authority, given the community spread of COVID-19 in the capital city”.

They asserted that security measures that have been instituted “are part of a routine security exercise in the Greater Male Region”.

The trigger for the Maldivian opposition protests, as per sources, was the slew of announcements made by the Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, which included funding for the largest infrastructure project in the Maldives.

During a video conference with his Maldivian counterpart, Jaishankar had announced that India would fund the Greater Malé Connectivity Project that could potentially overshadow China’s Sinamale bridge that cost over $200 million. He also added that India would give another USD 400 million line of credit, appending to the USD 800 million soft loan already being used to finance high impact projects in the Maldives.

Sources claimed the opposition was trying to corner the Ibrahim Solih government on its ties with India as New Delhi has been able to deliver on many of the projects that the president had requested after his election victory. “The opposition had assumed that the projects would get delayed and they will be able to cache onto the dissatisfaction over it”.

Highlighting the strengthened partnership with India under President Solih and his close ties with Indian PM Narendra Modi, sources in the Maldivian foreign ministry added that both countries are committee to “delivering results”. The number of development projects being undertaken with Indian financial support are progressing at excellent speed and will soon deliver their intended benefits to the people of the Maldives,” they said.

Also read: A Visual Guide to the External Affairs Ministry’s Share of the Budget 2020 Pie

With an ultra-nationalist, Islamist platform and accusing the government of “selling” to India, the opposition is hoping to see a recap of the events that led to the fall of Mohamed Nasheed-led MDP government in 2012. Nasheed’s forcible resignation had been preceded by months of anti-GMR and anti-India protests by the opposition parties, which snowballed into a mutiny by security agencies in February.

However, sources asserted that the likelihood of the opposition’s current anti-India protests being similarly successful was unlikely due to the leadership. “Solih is a very seasoned, solid person. He is not going to take any impetuous steps unlike Nasheed, who was a maverick,” they stressed.

(The article has been updated to include comments from sources in Maldivian foreign ministry)

Maldives: India Bids to Overtake China in Funding ‘High Visibility’ Infrastructure

During a meeting between foreign ministers S. Jaishankar and Abdulla Shahid on Thursday, India also extended a financial package to the archipelago nation.

New Delhi: Two years after China completed the Maldives’ biggest infrastructure project till date, India is attempting to overshadow Beijing by financing a multi-island connectivity proposal envisaged to be longer than the Sinamalé Bridge.

India’s decision to finance the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP), along with new budgetary support and an air travel bubble, was announced by external affairs minister S. Jaishankar during a meeting with his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid on Thursday.

While the Maldivian government highlighted the $250 million financial package, the Indian side gave top billing to the investment in GMCP.

The Maldives China Friendship project, a 1.39-kilometre bridge linking the capital city Malé to Hulhule island, was opened in April 2018. Then Maldives president Abdulla Yameen, whose term witnessed strained ties with India and stronger alignment with China, had described the $200 million project as the “biggest achievement in our diplomatic history”.

After the opposition MDP candidate Ibrahim Solih defeated Yameen, India has been trying to leverage its friendlier disposition to expand its presence in the strategically located Indian Ocean archipelago.

‘Largest civilian infrastructure project’

Announcing the decision to support the GMCP, Jaishankar noted, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) press release, that it will be the “largest civilian infrastructure project in the Maldives”. The financial package will have a grant component of $100 million and a new Line of Credit of $400 million.

An electoral promise of President Solih, the project will connect Malé with three neighbouring islands through a bridge and causeway link that will be 6.7 kilometres long. “Once completed, this landmark project will streamline connectivity between the four islands, thereby boosting economic activity, generating employment and promoting holistic urban development in the Malé region,” said the Indian foreign ministry.

It is said that the Maldivian president had reportedly sought India’s aid for the project during Jaishankar’s visit to the country in September 2019.

According to government sources, the “high visibility” GMCP will render the Maldives China Friendship bridge ‘insignificant in comparison’. “It will help in demonstrating India’s overarching presence in the Maldives through a high-visibility project in the Greater Malé region and showcase India’s expertise in conceptualising and implementing a complex infrastructural project of this scale,” they said.

India had previously extended an $800 million line of credit, which is being used to implement seven projects ranging from a water supply and sewerage system to a port project.

An aerial view of the Maldives China friendship bridge. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Panda 51 CC BY SA 4.0

Extension of financial assistance

For the Maldives, the key assurance received during the meeting was the extension of financial assistance.

The Maldives foreign ministry headlined the readout of the video conference – “extends financial support of 250 million US Dollars to the Maldives”. The Indian press release stated that the “exact modalities of the loan arrangement are being finalised by the two sides”.

“Given the financial challenges faced by the Maldives due to the COVID-19 situation and India’s commitment to assist the Maldives in its economic recovery, EAM announced that the Government of India has decided to extend in-principle urgent financial assistance to the Government of Maldives, by way of a soft loan arrangement,” said the MEA press note.

Indian sources pointed out that India had earlier signed a $400 million bilateral currency swap agreement with the Maldives, out of which $150 million had already been withdrawn.

“The Government of Maldives can draw the remaining $250 million anytime till July 2021 to increase forex liquidity and exchange rate management. On the GoM’s request, the currency swap agreement has been further extended for a period of one year,” the sources said.

Tourism and travel

The restrictions on travel and lockdown have badly impacted the Maldives due to its dependence on tourism, with the government projecting a GDP contraction of 11% this year.

Last month, the Maldives opened its international airport to foreign tourists after a gap of nearly three months.

Jaishankar announced that India will create an air travel bubble with the country, with the first flight expected to commence on August 18. Until now, India has largely negotiated air travel bubbles with western countries, so this is the first in the neighbourhood.

“He (the Maldivian foreign minister) emphasised the importance of easing travel, especially for Maldivians seeking to visit India for urgently required medical treatment, as well as Indian tourists wishing to visit the Maldives,” said the Maldivian statement.

A resort island in the Maldives. Photo: Reuters

Besides, India and Maldives agreed that a direct cargo ferry service, announced during the Indian PM’s visit last year, will “commence shortly”.

“A direct cargo ferry service presents an opportunity for India to replace other countries and become the top trade partner of Maldives. In this context and with many bilateral projects slated to commence in the next few months, it is the right time to start a cargo ferry service with the Maldives,” explained government sources.

India has also offered a larger annual quota for this year of supply of essential commodities as defined by the 1981 bilateral trade agreement.

The MEA also added that President Solih is likely to visit India this year “subject to the COVID-19 related conditions”

Interview | No Need to Play India, China Against Each Other: Maldives Foreign Minister

Abdulla Shahid said, “India has always been, always will be our best friend. The previous government had a very bad experience by trying to push away India.”

New Delhi: It has been over a year since the Maldives threw up a surprise and overwhelmingly voted for the opposition to return to power.

After estrangement during the tenure of President Abdulla Yameen, the first year of Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih has entailed a return to the ‘India First’ policy. However, while China’s presence has become low-profile, Beijing remains an important partner for the Maldives due to its generous funding profile.

In a sign of the return of normalcy of bilateral ties, the Joint Commission meeting, that sets the agenda for the relationship, will be held on Friday after a gap of four years. It will be chaired by Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid.

A former parliament speaker, Shahid has been at the forefront of returning the Maldives to the international community.

In an interview to The Wire in New Delhi, Shahid said that he had expressed disappointment at the pace of the re-induction of Maldives into the Commonwealth. The current Maldivian speaker Mohamed Nasheed had earlier told The Wire that he was concerned that the Commonwealth Secretary General’s previous consultancy with the Yameen government may have impacted the process.

He spoke about the state of bilateral relations with India and whether he was satisfied with the current pace of work in development projects. He asserted that the government wanted to make sure that it was following all rules and procedures in implementing the development projects which would impact progress – but it was essential to ensure that resources were not misused as the previous government had done.

Also read: Commonwealth Chief Accused of Bias After Maldives’ Re-Entry Still Not Cleared

The foreign minister also answered questions about the de-registration of a civil society group, Maldives Democracy Network (MDN) for its allegedly anti-Islamic content in a report published four years ago.

Within the last one year, Maldives’ judiciary has undergone a full makeover. Shahid explained why this was necessary.

The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Can you spell out the agenda for the joint commission meeting?

This is the sixth joint commission meeting. The last joint commission meeting was held in 2015. Thereafter, relations had gone south between the Maldives and India. After the new government came in, the friendship that began on the 17th of November, 2018 between President Solih and Prime Minister Modi has strengthened… there has been a lot of high-level visits. This year has been full of activities.

After a four-year absence, the joint commission, co-chaired by Dr Jaishankar and myself, will be sitting down to review what has been on the table and to set out the agenda for the future.

What has been driving this relationship between our two countries is the direct contact between the two leaders. From November 2018, the senior leaders have met more than 2-3 times. Just a week back, they met again via video link. Every time they meet, they put out a more ambitious agenda. It is up to officials to implement it. So, it will be good to sit down in Delhi and review what has happened and set up the agenda for the next two years.

Are you satisfied with the pace of execution of the projects?

All I can say is that people in Delhi as well as in Malé, are putting 100-150% effort into it. But after all, we are all humans. So, there is a limit to what can actually be done in reality. But, there is no limit to our desire and expectation.

But, also what we are trying to do, here in Delhi and Malé, we have agreed that our projects will be transparent. It would be not fraught with corruption and other faults that were part of the previous regime, who were mis-utilising foreign aid.

Also read: Maldives Defence Minister: No Need for Close Military Ties With Countries Other Than India

We came in promising good governance. So good governance, democracy, these are things that do not necessarily give too much room for fast-paced execution. Because there are certain rules to be obeyed. It is not like what one can do things in a dictatorship. In the end, when things were done in that manner, it was realised that the exact thing could have been done for a lesser amount.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid meets Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar at Hyderabad House on December 13, 2019. Photo: MoFAmv/Twitter

What is happening with the projects between India and Maldives is that proper planning is put into place, proper studies are done – and the proper procedures are being followed.

But even with all this, I am happy to say that soon we are going to see several of the projects start physically.

What do you mean by increasing transparency in India-backed projects?

Indian aid packages come through Exim bank. So, we are following Exim bank procedures to the letter. EXIM bank is a commercial entity, who are liable to the financial procedures and protocols of not only Indian but also international standards. So, we will adhere to these standards and we are doing it. We are also very sensitive to our own laws that have been instituted and we are following it

How much of the line of credit has been utilised?

I can say that the port project is moving quite well. The land reclamation for that project has been awarded. The agreements for Addu integrated project is on the verge of being concluded. We should see ground-breaking in a couple of months in the water and sanitation projects.

The entire bench of the Supreme Court has been just recently changed. What is the goal of the government on the judiciary – which seems to be the main reform priority for the government?

Would the issue of commonwealth membership come up in your discussions with the Indian side?

Yes, of course. I will be thanking Dr Jaishankar and the Indian government for the outstanding support that they have given for our cause. The (Commonwealth) secretary-general has finally, earlier this month circulated her report to all member states. We are very hopeful that we are going to be back in the commonwealth.

Also read: After Hiccups, India and Maldives Target Economic Cooperation

So you will be back in the commonwealth at the Commonwealth heads of government summit at Rwanda (in June 2020)?

I am not waiting till Rwanda summit. I want the Maldives in before that.

She (the secretary-general) has given a deadline of the end of this month for states to raise any objection to the Maldives becoming a member. She has also recommended that Maldives membership be fast-tracked like that of the Gambia. I am expecting the secretary-general to write to the President early next year. Of course, once we receive the letter, we will send a formal application which will be circulated to the heads of government for endorsement.

Did you expect the process for the Maldives return to Commonwealth to take this long?

To tell you frankly, I am disappointed. I have expressed my disappointment to the secretary-general more than once. She also tells me that she is making sure that all procedures and protocol are being followed.

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: Reuters

You have an ‘India First’ foreign policy – but you also have a relationship with China. How are you able to walk the fine line between these two countries?

India has always been, always will be our best friend. The previous government had a very bad experience by trying to push away India. But India is there in the north. It has assisted us in every difficulty we have had. India is the only country geographically placed with the necessary resources and the necessary goodwill to come to the assistance of the Maldives. Now the relationship is much closer. We don’t see our relationship with any other country having any impact on our relationship with India.

We do have a relationship with China and to be fair, they have been very generous to the people of Maldives. But, there is no need to play one against one another. Doing that will hurt everyone.

The opposition had a very close relationship with the previous Sri Lankan government and especially, former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. How do you see your relationship with Sri Lanka under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa?

The relationship between the Maldives and Sri Lanka goes beyond government. It has been there from time immemorial. Governments come and go, but the relationship flourishes. What happens in Sri Lanka impacts the Maldives and what happens in the Maldives, impacts Sri Lanka. After Malé, Colombo has the second-highest concentration of Maldivians. So, we engage with every government and with everyone, we have a good relationship. It is for the people of Sri Lanka to decide on their leadership. But, whoever is there, Maldivian people will have good relations.

Also read: Interim Budget: Maldives Aid Allocation for 2019-20 Quadrupled

Abdulla Shahid with Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Photo: MoFAmv/Twitter

The new Maldives government seems to have concentrated domestically in changing the judiciary. The entire Supreme Court bench has been changed. Why has the government made this a priority?

We came into government promising judicial reforms. Since the new constitution was promulgated in 2008, the one branch of government that has totally failed is the judiciary.

I was the speaker of the parliament in the first five years. With much difficulty, I was able to keep the parliament functioning as it is supposed to be independent of the government. But during President Yameen’s period, we saw the parliament being hijacked by the government and the military was forced to enter the house. The military was controlling the parliament during most of the term. Several members were evicted from the house, including President Solih and I. Some members of parliament were disqualified by the judiciary. There was little activity in parliament in the last five years.

When we examined what had happened, we saw a finger of the judiciary at every stage, stirring and disrupting the process. Investment confidence in the Maldivian economy for foreign investors had been lost. There was no inflow of Foreign Direct Investment. The entire integrity of judiciary was tarnished. That is the reason we had to make it our number one priority.

If you recall, in 2013, the judiciary had fixed the elections, hand in hand with the government. It was the judiciary which fixed the parliamentary elections in 2014 by removing the election commissioner and the deputy just a week before the elections. So, they played very dirty.

They also faced the wrath of President Yameen towards the end of his term, when he had his military go into the Supreme Court and arrest the sitting Chief Justice Ali Hameed.

So our number one priority is to re-establish the priority, give the much-needed confidence to the people and the international community, to international investors. This is to bring back some sanity in the country.

While there was a lot of hope with this government, one issue on which there is disappointment is about the treatment meted out to Maldives Democracy Network. Why was it necessary to ban the organisation?

We came to power as a government promising rule of law. Yes, MDN is an organisation which worked very closely with us during our time as the opposition. It was a most painful decision for the government to take. When you look at the report that was published by them, it was very unfortunate that there were parts of it which were contrary to law. The police and the Islamic ministry saw the contents of it and tried to take action that was prescribed in law.

It wasn’t the easiest of actions. But we also had a look at decisions taken by some of the other countries like Denmark, Austria and the European court of human rights. It had been decided ridicule of prophet and such language is not deemed as human rights or freedom of expression.

Also Read: Maldives Govt Tells NGO to Stop Work Over ‘Anti-Islamic’ 2015 Report

It was a very painful decision. But, we also do not want to give the signal that the space for NGOs is being limited. We will be talking to NGOs and with their views, we will have a review

Earlier, they [NGOs] were registered under the home ministry. When we came to power, we desired to give more space to civil society. President Solih created the ministry for community development to provide more space for civil society. We will guarantee their space.

Sushma Swaraj Meets Maldivian Foreign Minister to ‘Deepen’ a ‘Vital Relationship’

This is Abdulla Shahid’s first visit after assuming charge as foreign minister of Maldives and assumes significance as the ties between the two countries had been severely strained under the previous government.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday, November 26, met her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid to “deepen” bilateral cooperation and ensure peace and security in the region.

This is Shahid’s first visit after assuming charge as foreign minister of Maldives and assumes significance as the ties between both the countries had severely strained under the previous government in the island nation.

“Working together to fulfil the developmental priorities of Maldives. EAM @SushmaSwaraj and FM of Maldives @abdulla_shahid had a warm and productive meeting on deepening bilateral cooperation and to ensure peace and security in the region,” MEA spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted.


Earlier, Swaraj had “warmly” received Shahid and also congratulated him on his appointment as foreign minister.

Also read: Image-Conscious Narendra Modi May Skip Maldives President’s Inauguration

“Harmonious synergy of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ & Maldives ‘India First’ policy. EAM @SushmaSwaraj warmly received Foreign Minister of Maldives @adbulla_shahid on his 1st foreign visit to India. EAM congratulated FM Shahid on his appointment as new Foreign Minister of Maldives,” Kumar tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on November 17 in Male.

Solih, as the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s candidate, had surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in the presidential election held on September 23.

India-Maldives ties had deteriorated significantly under Yameen who was perceived to be close to China.

Also watch: Should India Intervene In The Maldives Crisis?

Some decisions by Yameen including imposition of restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing also did not go down well with New Delhi.

Relations between India and the Maldives slumped further after Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 this year.

India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners.

The emergency lasted for 45 days.