His Excellency James Dauris, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Maldives has made his final calls on the President and Vice President of the Republic of Maldives, their Excellencies Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Faisal Naseem, respectively.
H.E Mr. Dauris is ending his diplomatic term after an eventful four years serving as the non-resident Ambassador to the Maldives, based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. During his farewell calls the Ambassador remarked that he was elated to end his diplomatic posting on a high note, owing to the palpable change in the political atmosphere in the Maldives since the last Presidential elections and the swearing-in of the present administration.
The Ambassador noted that throughout his term it has become evident that our two countries share many common principles pertinent to international affairs, including a belief in free trade, a peaceful and prosperous Indian Ocean, environmental preservation and marine conservation. He expressed further that our practical cooperation in the international fora is strengthened by our friendly bilateral bonds rooted in history, language and ongoing collaboration in such fields as education, commerce, and security.
Referring to ongoing conversations between the Maldives’ Foreign Minister and the Maldives’ Ambassador to the U.K, with the Commonwealth’s Secretary-General, Ambassador Dauris expressed that the U.K is very supportive of the Maldives’ case for early readmission back into the organization, and that this endeavor has gained much traction due to the Commonwealth’s very positive published assessment of our most recently held Parliamentary Elections.
The President and Vice President, in their respective meetings with the Ambassador, acknowledged and thanked the UK Government for the constructive role they have played throughout the Maldives’ democratization journey. They expressed that our government is very eager to work with the Ambassador’s chosen successor to take forward our mutual bilateral relations, adding that this work will be greatly facilitated by the resident UK Embassy planned to be opened in the Maldives, in the near future.
The President and Vice President reiterated the Ambassador’s positive sentiments and wished His Excellency well in any future role he chooses to pursue, ending the call by expressing that Mr. Dauris is a dear friend to the Maldives, who will always be welcome in our country.
The Government and people of Maldives thank Ambassador Dauris for the outstanding service he has rendered towards progressing our mutual diplomatic ties.
