President Barack Obama has chosen U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert Blake to replace Richard Boucher as Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian affairs dealing with India and Pakistan.
In announcing his nomination, the White House noted Mr. Blake had also been Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. mission in New Delhi from 2003 to 2006.
If approved by the Senate, Mr. Blake will also deal with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. A veteran diplomat, Mr. Blake, as Ambassador to Colombo and the Maldives, has urged Sri Lankan officials to let civilians leave the safe zone where they were trapped with Tamil Tiger rebels.
A foreign service officer since 1985, Mr. Blake has also served at the U.S. embassies in Tunisia, Algeria, Nigeria and Egypt. He also has held a number of positions at the State Department in Washington. Mr. Blake earned a bachelor of arts from Harvard in 1980 and a masters in international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 1984. Source:— IANS
Showing posts with label Diplomatics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diplomatics. Show all posts
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Maldives recognize Kosovo independence: gov't
The Maldives, the Indian Ocean atoll nation, on Thursday officially recognized Kosovo, the government said.
Kosovo celebrated the first anniversary of its declaration of independence from
The
Maldives recognize Kosovo independence: gov't
The Maldives, the Indian Ocean atoll nation, on Thursday officially recognized Kosovo, the government said.
Kosovo celebrated the first anniversary of its declaration of independence from
The
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Maldives to recognise Kosovan independence
Maldives’ decision to recognise Kosovo as an independent state has been described as “very good news” for both the government and its people, by a Kosovan government spokesperson.
Kosovo, a predominantly Muslim country, declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008, but backed by Russia, Serbia claimed the move was illegal. Vojislav Kostunica, the Serbian prime minister at the time, described Kosovo as a “false state”.
In an exclusive interview with Minivan News, Memli Krasniqi said he was delighted to hear about Maldives’ recognition and hoped it would strengthen ties between the two countries.
“We had officially requested the major powers and Islamic countries including the Maldives to recognise Kosovo after declaring independence,” he said. “A number of Islamic countries like Senegal, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates have also recognised Kosovo.”
Maldivian foreign minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed told Minivan News that the Maldives was committed to upholding the principles enshrined in the United Nations charter, which supports the principle of national self-determination.
“This is the main reason for recognising Kosovo,” he said. “The Maldives will announce the date of its recognition after official discussions.”
Shaheed added Kosovan recognition had been recommended to the Maldives by two of its allies, the UK and the USA, to ensure peace in Eastern Europe.
Following the Maldives’ decision, Krasniqi has said the Kosovan government is interested in holding an official meeting with the Maldives.
After declaring independence, the UN Security Council was divided on the issue of recognition in July 2008.
While countries like the USA, the UK and France supported Kosovan independence, others such as Russia and China considered it to be illegitimate.
55 countries have since extended recognition to the Republic of Kosovo including Australia, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, and Japan.
Pakistan and India, two of the Maldives’ neighbouring countries, have not recognised Kosovo.
Commenting on this, Shaheed said, “We don’t have to consider neighbouring countries policies as the Maldives is an Independent state.
“We are also entitled to make our own decisions. There won’t be a negative impact with our relationship with India and China after we recognise Kosovo.”
The foreign minister added he was interested in pursuing both business with Kosovo and free visas for Maldivians travelling to the country.
The last country to recognise Kosovo was Panama, on 16 January 2009
Source: minivannews.com
Kosovo, a predominantly Muslim country, declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008, but backed by Russia, Serbia claimed the move was illegal. Vojislav Kostunica, the Serbian prime minister at the time, described Kosovo as a “false state”.
In an exclusive interview with Minivan News, Memli Krasniqi said he was delighted to hear about Maldives’ recognition and hoped it would strengthen ties between the two countries.
“We had officially requested the major powers and Islamic countries including the Maldives to recognise Kosovo after declaring independence,” he said. “A number of Islamic countries like Senegal, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates have also recognised Kosovo.”
Maldivian foreign minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed told Minivan News that the Maldives was committed to upholding the principles enshrined in the United Nations charter, which supports the principle of national self-determination.
“This is the main reason for recognising Kosovo,” he said. “The Maldives will announce the date of its recognition after official discussions.”
Shaheed added Kosovan recognition had been recommended to the Maldives by two of its allies, the UK and the USA, to ensure peace in Eastern Europe.
Following the Maldives’ decision, Krasniqi has said the Kosovan government is interested in holding an official meeting with the Maldives.
After declaring independence, the UN Security Council was divided on the issue of recognition in July 2008.
While countries like the USA, the UK and France supported Kosovan independence, others such as Russia and China considered it to be illegitimate.
55 countries have since extended recognition to the Republic of Kosovo including Australia, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, and Japan.
Pakistan and India, two of the Maldives’ neighbouring countries, have not recognised Kosovo.
Commenting on this, Shaheed said, “We don’t have to consider neighbouring countries policies as the Maldives is an Independent state.
“We are also entitled to make our own decisions. There won’t be a negative impact with our relationship with India and China after we recognise Kosovo.”
The foreign minister added he was interested in pursuing both business with Kosovo and free visas for Maldivians travelling to the country.
The last country to recognise Kosovo was Panama, on 16 January 2009
Source: minivannews.com
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Chinese Ambassador pays farewell call on Foreign Minister
Chinese Ambassador accredited to Maldives Ye Dabo paid a farewell call on Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheedon Wednesday.
During the call at the Foreign Ministry Minister Shaheed praised the contribution of the Ambassador in strengthening diplomatic and friendly ties between the Maldives and China. Minister Shaheed also conveyed his gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for its continued assistance towards the development of Maldives.Minister Shaheed further said that his recent visit to China was very valuable and it gave him immense pleasure to meet the Maldivian students who are studying medicine in China. Minister concluded by saying that the Maldives will continue to enhance the close bilateral relations between the two countries.
Ambassador Dabo took the opportunity to reaffirm China’s continued support for the Maldives, and thanked the Government of the Maldives for its continuous support for the one China policy and the Olympic Games held in China this summer.
Source: miadhu.com.mv
Monday, December 29, 2008
India visit fruitful, says Maldives President
The President of the Republic of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, was on an official visit to India from December 23 to December 26, 2008. During the visit, the President of Maldives signed two pacts with the Indian government - one on extending a standby credit facility of $100 million to Maldives and another on air services agreement.
The two governments agreed to work together for the further enhancement of their multifaceted relationship based on shared democratic values, commitment to economic development and social welfare, mutual understanding and cooperation and shared views on major international issues, says a release.
The two sides noted that there was great potential to increase trade and investment between the two countries. Both agreed to revive the sub group on trade under the India-Maldives Joint Commission to recommend ways and means to enhance trade and investment.
Nasheed addressed a meeting of Indian and Maldivians businessmen and industrialists organised jointly by Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Nasheed invited the Indian entrepreneurs to participate in these programmes.
During his visit, Nasheed called on the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil; the Vice-President of India, Mohammed Hamid Ansari; and the External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee.
The Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, and the Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani called on President Nasheed in New Delhi.
Nasheed and Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, held official level discussions in New Delhi.
This was Nasheed’s first visit to India after assuming the office of the President of the Republic of Maldives in November 2008.
Source: sify.comWednesday, December 24, 2008
India gives 100 million dollar credit to Maldives
Demonstrating its commitment to help the newly-elected government in Maldives, India on Wednesday extended a 100-million-dollar credit to strengthen maritime security in the strategic Indian Ocean island nation.
The pact on extending a Standby Credit Facility and an Air Services Agreement was signed after talks Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had with visiting Maldives President Mohammed Nasheed.
The two leaders identified drug transit and control as important issues to be dealt with and India offered to train Maldivian police forces for this. The two countries also agreed to make joint efforts for effective prevention of drug trafficking.
Nasheed, whose electoral win on October 28 ended 30-year one-party rule of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, asked the host to conduct a professional course for Maldivian diplomats next year, which was agreed to.
The two sides expressed their commitment to enhance their defence and security relations based on shared maritime threats and other security concerns.
Nasheed, who as leader of the opposition had spent considerable time in India, condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai as the two sides emphasised the need for concerted and coordinated action by the international community to prevent, combat and eradicate terrorism.
Besides Singh, the Maldivian President will also meet with Vice President Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Leader of the Opposition L K Advani.
Nasheed also called on President Pratibha Patil who hosted a banquet in his honour.
Of 100 million credit facility, 50 million dollars would be used for imports from India while the remaining 50 per cent will be for budgetary support.
Source: hindu.comTuesday, July 10, 2007
Maldives signs torture treaty, to host UN visit
The Maldives, after being named as one of the first signatories of the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), will host a visit by the international Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture later this year.
The Maldives was chosen by lot from among 34 OPCAT signatories to receive the subcommittee, which has a mandate to work with governments, law enforcement agencies, penal institutions, human rights commissions and civil society to strengthen national torture prevention safeguards, practices and mechanisms.
This visit would represent a landmark in the construction of the United Nations' torture prevention architecture, which has been over two decades in the making. It will also be the first time that a UN human rights treaty body visits State Parties in a preventive capacity - reflecting OPCAT's purpose - to focus on prevention rather than to investigate allegations of torture.
Following the visits, the Subcommittee will make recommendations to the Maldivian authorities on establishing effective measures to prevent torture, and to improve the conditions of detention of all persons deprived of their liberty.
The UN subcommittee has already held provisional consultations with the Maldivian authorities late June, regarding the modalities for the visit, and the government has committed itself to engage with the body in an open and constructive manner to improve torture prevention practices in its places of detention.
Speaking of the upcoming visit, chief government spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef said, "The government's goal is to attain the very highest standards of torture prevention, and we welcome international and national scrutiny of our progress towards that goal. We therefore look forward to receiving the Subcommittee later this year".
In response, Subcommittee chair Silvia Casale, congratulated the Maldives for its early ratification of the OPCAT and for its continued commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights.
The OPCAT was adopted by the United Nations on December 18, 2002 and entered into force on June 22, 2006. The Maldives was one of the 20 original members of OPCAT, having signed the instrument on September 14, 2005 and formally acceded on February 15, 2006. The Maldives was also the first country in Asia to ratify OPCAT.
--- IANS
The Maldives was chosen by lot from among 34 OPCAT signatories to receive the subcommittee, which has a mandate to work with governments, law enforcement agencies, penal institutions, human rights commissions and civil society to strengthen national torture prevention safeguards, practices and mechanisms.
This visit would represent a landmark in the construction of the United Nations' torture prevention architecture, which has been over two decades in the making. It will also be the first time that a UN human rights treaty body visits State Parties in a preventive capacity - reflecting OPCAT's purpose - to focus on prevention rather than to investigate allegations of torture.
Following the visits, the Subcommittee will make recommendations to the Maldivian authorities on establishing effective measures to prevent torture, and to improve the conditions of detention of all persons deprived of their liberty.
The UN subcommittee has already held provisional consultations with the Maldivian authorities late June, regarding the modalities for the visit, and the government has committed itself to engage with the body in an open and constructive manner to improve torture prevention practices in its places of detention.
Speaking of the upcoming visit, chief government spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef said, "The government's goal is to attain the very highest standards of torture prevention, and we welcome international and national scrutiny of our progress towards that goal. We therefore look forward to receiving the Subcommittee later this year".
In response, Subcommittee chair Silvia Casale, congratulated the Maldives for its early ratification of the OPCAT and for its continued commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights.
The OPCAT was adopted by the United Nations on December 18, 2002 and entered into force on June 22, 2006. The Maldives was one of the 20 original members of OPCAT, having signed the instrument on September 14, 2005 and formally acceded on February 15, 2006. The Maldives was also the first country in Asia to ratify OPCAT.
--- IANS
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