News & press releases

Commonwealth Team Calls on the Foreign Minister

Commonwealth Team Calls on the Foreign Minister Image 1

 

31 January 2019

The Commonwealth Secretariat Staff Team on an assessment mission to the Maldives paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs today.

At the meeting which was held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Shahid expressed the political will of the Government of Maldives in becoming a Member State of the Commonwealth at the earliest possible opportunity, and committed the Maldives in pursuing the accession process in full cooperation with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

He mentioned that the Maldives had a lot to gain from the Commonwealth and its Member States, in the country’s journey to further strengthen and bolster the country’s institutional capacity especially in the judicial sector. He also mentioned that the Maldives had a lot to contribute as well, through its experience in democratic consolidation, and its leadership in the areas of climate change and human rights.

The Commonwealth Team during their visit earlier called on His Excellency Mr.Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of Maldives, as well as Hon. Qasim Ibrahim, Speaker of the People’s Majlis and Hon. Ahmed Abdulla Didi, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. They also met with a host of senior government officials, independent institutions, political parties and other key stakeholders in the country.

The Commonwealth Team is in the Maldives as part of an assessment required by the Commonwealth Secretariat to prepare the Maldives for its membership in the Commonwealth. In December 2018, upon the assumption of office, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had committed the Maldives to become a full member of the Commonwealth. The Maldives first joined the Commonwealth in 1982, and left in October 2016 after 34 years.

ENDS