President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has today launched the Foreign Policy of the Maldives. The ceremony was held this afternoon at the President’s Office.
Highlighting the strategies set in the new Foreign Policy, the President noted that it focused on enhancing national sovereignty and protecting the Islamic identity of the country.
Speaking in this regard, the President noted that the 26 July 2015 would mark the golden jubilee of the Maldives’ independence, and that a strong and strategic policy was vital for the Maldives to maintain peace and stability.
Highlighting the many similarities in his Foreign Policy to that of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President Yameen said that the newly formulated government policy promoted sovereign equality of States in accordance with international law, and gave emphasis to consolidating friendship with all countries based on mutual respect. He also stressed that bilateral collaborations must be lead through diplomatic dialogue, and that each country was entitled to sovereign equality.
Underlining that the main objective of his foreign policy was to increase opportunities for the economic advancement of Maldivians, the President said that in today’s world, an independent foreign policy could only be employed by becoming an economically sufficient, and resilient nation.
Stating that the another important goal of the government’s Foreign Policy was providing quality consular services for Maldivians, the President said that the new Foreign Policy aims to conclude visa waiver agreements with countries most frequently visited by Maldivians. He said that the government was responsible to facilitate the consular protection guaranteed by international laws, for all Maldivians travelling and residing abroad.
Speaking at the function, President Yameen also said that the government was working on a Foreign Service Act in order to make the Maldivian consular service more result oriented, and to promote efficiency and professionalism in the service. He said that the government would submit the bill for the parliament’s approval, in its first hundred days.
In his speech, the President further said that a Foreign Service Institute has been established on 16 January 2014, under the administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affair. The mandate for the institution includes human resource development in the foreign service sector, enrichment of the foreign policy, and conducting pertinent academic research.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dunya Maumoon, and Minister at the President’s Office, Hon. Mohamed Hussain Shareef also spoke at the ceremony.
