Embassy of the United States of America has held a special function to celebrate the 234th anniversary of America’s independence in the Maldives.
Speaking at the function, held at the Holiday Inn hotel this afternoon, President Mohamed Nasheed said we commemorated the US Independence Day as a day when people understood that democracy was the best form of governance.
Noting that “no people have been able to experiment and make that system a reality than the American people”, the President congratulated the people of America.
The President told the international community that the first democratic government of this country was elected to consolidate democracy.
He said the government was “not elected simply just to be in the government.”
“The people have categorically asked us [to] establish and implement democracy in this country.”
He further said that to consolidate democracy “we have to rid this country of corruption, human rights abuse and all the other illnesses of the society.”
Referring to the current political situation and the reasons for the resignation of the entire cabinet on Tuesday, the President said the Maldives now faced “one of the biggest challenges this nation has ever faced.”
In his remarks the President expressed his hope that the situation would be resolved soon through dialogue. He said “there is no best cause of action than dialogue.”
The President assured the international community and the people of the Maldives that the government “will adhere to rule of law. We will follow the book and we will not do anything that is illegal or not prescribed by law.”
Speaking at the function, US Ambassador Patricia Butenis said the Maldives’ path to democracy in many ways resembled that of America’s.
“You too, much like us, have been working to strengthen your democracy and ensure that your government reflects the will and interests of the people”, Ambassador Butenis said.
