Maldives president on two-day visit to Sri Lanka

The President of the Maldives Mohammed Nasheed arrived in Colombo Friday for a two-day official visit, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Nasheed is to call on his counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa later in the evening for bilateral talks while a meeting with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka is scheduled for Saturday.

He will also meet with the local business community before leaving on Sunday morning. It is his first visit to Sri Lanka after taking office in November.

Nasheed, 41, a former political prisoner, was elected president October, replacing Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who ruled the country since 1978.

The two island nations maintain close relations.

Source: monstersandcritics.com

Maldives President Nasheed meets British High Commissioner

President Mohamed Nasheed has met with the British High Commissioner to the Maldives, Dr. Peter Hayes. The meeting was held this afternoon, at the President’s Office.

Speaking at the meeting President Nasheed and the High Commissioner discussed ways of further strengthening bilateral relations and possible areas of cooperation between the Maldives and the United Kingdom.

President Nasheed also briefed Dr. Hayes on the Government’s policies in delivering its pledges to the people.

Dr. Hayes assured that the British government would continue its assistances to the Maldives.

President Nasheed was joined at the meeting by Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Special Envoy of the President; Abdul Bari Abdulla, Policy Secretary at the President’s Office; Sabra Noordeen, Maldives Political and Press Officer at the British High Commission; and Mohamed Naseer, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: miadhu.com.mv

Maldives President Nasheed meets British High Commissioner

President Mohamed Nasheed has met with the British High Commissioner to the Maldives, Dr. Peter Hayes. The meeting was held this afternoon, at the President’s Office.

Speaking at the meeting President Nasheed and the High Commissioner discussed ways of further strengthening bilateral relations and possible areas of cooperation between the Maldives and the United Kingdom.

President Nasheed also briefed Dr. Hayes on the Government’s policies in delivering its pledges to the people.

Dr. Hayes assured that the British government would continue its assistances to the Maldives.

President Nasheed was joined at the meeting by Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Special Envoy of the President; Abdul Bari Abdulla, Policy Secretary at the President’s Office; Sabra Noordeen, Maldives Political and Press Officer at the British High Commission; and Mohamed Naseer, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: miadhu.com.mv

Maldives: The President meets with the Special Envoy of the Leader of Libya

President Mohamed Nasheed today met with Mr. Mohamed El Barrani, Secretary for Asian Affairs and the Special Envoy of Col. Maummaral-Gaddafi of Libya. The meeting was held at the President's Office.

At the meeting, the President expressed the strong wish to maintain and expand friendly relations and reinforce mutually beneficial cooperation between the Maldives and Libya.

Mr. Barrani congratulated President Nasheed on his assumption of office. Reciprocating the sentiments on bilateral relations Mr. Barrani extended an invitation to the President to make an official visit to Libya. He also commended the Maldives for the successful establishment of a modern liberal democracy in the country. Further Mr. Barrani noted that Libya too was working its way to bring democratic reform to the country, and said that Col. Gaddafi wished to share the experience of the Maldives.

The President accepted Mr. Barrani's invitation to make an official visit to Libya. He also said that it would be a great pleasure for the Maldives to assist Libya in its efforts to foster democratic reforms in that country.

Source: www.isria.info

Foreign Ministry staff with diplomatic passports to have their luggage checked

Maldives Customs Service officials have been instructed to check the luggage of officials from the Foreign Ministry who had been issued diplomatic passports, Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has said on Monday.

In an interview with Haveeru, the Foreign Minister said that the decision had been taken last Saturday in order to dismiss suspicions on the Ministry’s officials, to avoid scandal and to preserve their good reputation.

“We’ve opened missions in many countries,” he said. “As the number of missions increases so will the number of staff who holds diplomatic passports. There are many emissaries and diplomatic staff and many times we’ve gotten a bad name just because our staff had diplomatic passports. In reality, none of our staff would try to smuggle in anything illegal into the country; that is true. But because they had diplomatic passports they are automatically placed under suspicion.”

The Minister said that he didn’t believe that the Maldivian Customs and Immigration should give any special privileges to those who held diplomatic passports. He also said that the decision had been made after discussing the matter with other staff and foreign emissaries.

“They should get the special privileges when they go to other countries only,” said the Foreign Minister. “I believe that whether you owned a red-passport or a green one you should have your luggage checked. Even my own luggage should be checked.”

In addition to senior officials of the Foreign Ministry and Diplomatic Missions, the President of the Maldives, the First Lady, their children, grandchildren and their in-laws, Ministers and their wives, Ministers of State, senior officials who have served the Government for a long time, emissaries and their wives, all own the red-coloured diplomatic passports. Senior officials of Government offices, Members of the People’s Majlis and Special Majlis, own the green-coloured Official Passport.

Source: haveeru.com.mv

Maldives High Commission opens in Singapore

The Maldives High Commission in Singapore was officially opened yesterday. The High Commission was officially opened by the Special Advisor to the President, Fathulla Jameel at a special ceremony held at Le Meridian Hotel in Singapore to mark the occasion.

Speaking at the function Fathulla Jameel highlighted the close relations that existed between Maldives and Singapore and expressed his delight at the opening of the High Commission. He further stated that the opening of the High Commission would further strengthen the ties between the two countries.

The High Commissioner of the Maldives to Singapore, Mr. Hassan Sobir also spoke at the ceremony. He also noted the close relationship Maldives enjoyed with Singapore and highlighted the different areas of cooperation. He also said that Singapore was frequently visited by Maldivians for various reasons and that the newly opened High Commission of great benefit to them.

A message by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Abdulla Shahid was also read at the ceremony by High Commissioner Sobir. In his message, Minister Shahid stated that the opening of the High Commission emphasized the importance attached by Maldives to the bilateral relations that existed between Maldives and Singapore. Minister Shahid also expressed his best wishes to the High Commissioner of Maldives to Singapore, the Staff of the High Commission and all Maldivians living in Singapore.

The ceremony was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Members of the Diplomatic Corps in Singapore, Staff of the High Commission and several Maldivians living in Singapore. The national flag of the Maldives was also raised by High Commissioner Sobir at the United Square building which houses the High Commission of Maldives.

The Maldives established diplomatic relations with Singapore on 20 February 1975.

Source: Haveeru

China, Maldives agree to boost cooperation in economy, technology

Foreign ministers from China and Maldives on Friday agreed to deepen traditional friendship and enhance cooperation of mutual benefits.

The China-Maldives relations have witnessed sound growth since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 1972, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi during a meeting with his Maldives counterpart Ahmed Shaheed.

The China-Maldives relationship has set a good example for the relationship between big and small nations in terms of equality, sincere cooperation and harmonious coexistence, Yang said.

Yang thanked the Maldivian government's firm support of China on the Taiwan, Tibet and human rights issues, adding China will be "a good neighbour, friend and partner" of Maldives.

Based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, China is willing to join hands with Maldives to deepen traditional friendly relations, Yang said.

Echoing Yang's views, Shaheed expressed his thanks for Chinese government's large quantities of assistance to Maldives, which has played an active role in the country's economic and social development.

Shaheed reiterated the Maldivian government's adherence to the one-China policy, saying based on the UN Charter Maldives will push forward its friendly cooperation with China.

After the talks, the two ministers signed an agreement on further cooperation between China and Maldives in economy and technology.

Source: Xinhua