President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has sent a message to Esala Ruwan Weerakoon, Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), on the occasion of the 36th SAARC Charter Day.
The President's message reads as follows:
On the Thirty-Sixth Anniversary of the founding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) I extend warm greetings and best wishes to the Secretary-General of SAARC, the SAARC Secretariat, SAARC bodies and entities, and to all of our SAARC family.
This year we mark SAARC Charter Day amidst a global pandemic. The role of SAARC in fostering a strong regional identity and enhancing cooperation between our governments is now especially evident. Overcoming the challenge of this pandemic will require the whole region to work together regularly and in good faith. The timely video conference of SAARC leaders hosted by India and the establishment of the SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund to address the immediate impacts of the disease is a strong reaffirmation of the value of South Asian regional cooperation. It is also a healthy sign of mutual regional goodwill that, despite the difficult circumstances, we have been able to hold several meetings and conduct several activities using virtual platforms.
As we celebrate SAARC Charter Day, let us redouble our commitment to ensure that this organization lives up to its full potential. It is crucial that we regularly engage and consult with one another, and coordinate our efforts on mutually important issues, in order to reap the full benefits of regional cooperation. Let me reiterate that the Government of Maldives has been fully committed to SAARC since its inception in 1985. We remain eager to work together with our neighbors to strengthen the peace, prosperity and stability of the region.