بســم اللّـه الرّحمـن الرّحيــم
I thank His Excellency President Abdul Kalam, for inviting me to visit India. It is always a delight to visit India, to make new friends and renew old friendships. On this visit, I have held very warm and cordial discussions with President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the President of Congress I, Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, Shri L.K. Adhavani, the External Affairs Minister, Shri Natvar Singh and the Minister of Defence, Shri Ranad Mukarji. I would like to place some record, our deep appreciation to the Government and the people of India, for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to us.
The bilateral discussions held between the two countries have been very productive. We have identified areas in which co-operation will be further accelerated, such as development of human resources, co-operation in the field of environment and tourism and collaboration in the field of science and technology.
As you are aware, Indian assistance played a crucial role in our relief efforts, following the devastation caused by the tsunami of last December. Although, the number of deaths in the Maldives was comparatively low, the tsunami created a nationwide disaster, wiping out about 62% of our GDP. Indian Government response to the emergency was timely and substantial and we thank the Government and people of India, for that help. We also thank other donors who have joined us in the relief and recovery efforts.
For the Maldives, India is a crucial development and strategic partner. Our ties of bilateral and regional collaboration are extensive and far reaching. In addition to being a major player in the region, India is also an influential nation on the world stage. We share common views on a range of International issues of mutual interest. Such as international peace, the protection of the environment, more equitable development, human rights, the fight against terrorism and the reform of the United Nations.
On UN reform, the Maldives joins India, in welcoming the proposals recently made by the UN Secretary General. We believe that the UN Security Council must reflect the realities of our times, in order to strengthen its effectiveness and relevance. The Maldives is happy to extend its full support for a permanent seat for India in an expanded Security Council. I have accordingly assured Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh of our full support to India in this matter.
As you may be aware, the Maldives is pursuing an ambitious reform agenda, to make the country a modern and mature democracy. Last month, I presented a 31 point reform package to the People’s Special Majlis for the constitutional assembly and requested them to complete the work of amending the constitution in about one year. Earlier this month, we published a comprehensive criminal justice action plan, to transform and modernize our criminal justice system. Our reform measures in the pipeline, address areas such as press freedom, electoral reform and crime reduction. These reforms will result in the political modernization of the country, on the heels of nearly three decades of social and economic development.
Since gaining independence in 1965, the population has nearly tripled. The per capita income has increased from under 300 US Dollars in 1978 to 2,400 Dollars today. Over the past two decades, the economy has grown at an average of 9% per annum. Life expectancy has increased from only 46 years in 1978 to 72 years today. Similarly, infant mortality has been reduced from 120 to only 14. The functional literacy increased from 82% in 1978 to a remarkable 99% in recent years. India has been a vital development partner in the progress that we have attained. We look forward to continued collaboration with India, in the time ahead as well. Especially as we pursue recovery plus after the tsunami.
Our ties with India will always remain extremely important. As you probably know, we have laid a ground work of further expanding relations between the two countries by opening a permanent diplomatic mission in New Delhi last year. I am confident that the friendship that exists between the Maldives and India will continue to flourish in the years ahead. Let me also share with you that I have invited President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to visit the Maldives at a convenient time. Thank you.
Mr. Mohamed Hussain Shareef - President’s Office:
The President will now take your questions for about 15 minutes; please do identify yourself before asking questions.
Mr. Amit Varuma - The Hindu Newspaper:
I am Amit Varuma from the Hindu Newspaper; I have two questions, just looking through some of the reforms that you have proposed. Do you feel that some of the clauses that are mentioned, could they leave a rather large scope for interpretation by the executive authority. And my second question related to the SAARC summit, since you have been in Delhi and just wanting to know, you think that summit is likely to be held this year or would it now be next year? Thank you so much!
The President:
Well, as far as the first question is concerned, what I have proposed is some general ideas, new concepts. It is up to the People’s Special Majlis to deliberate on these proposals and define, exactly what they would like to be in the constitution. So, any vagueness or generalities can be defined and specified in the constitution when the assembly does finalize its deliberations. As far as the second question is concerned, we discussed the thirteenth SAARC summit when it can be convened. Both India and the Maldives are ready to meet at anytime convenient to other leaders.
Ms. Admilla George - The Associated Press:
Mr. President, I am Admilla George from the Associated Press. The Maldives Democratic Party has announced that it is ready to return from the exile and set up an office in Male’. Will you allow it?
The President:
First let me tell you that according to our present constitution, there is no scope for political parties. That is one of the areas that I am proposing to be changed. I am asking the People’s Special Majlis to make a provision in the new constitution which I have proposed that there should be space for a multi-party political system. But as it is, our present constitution does not allow that. This has been established by the legal opinion of the Attorney General. Who presented that opinion in 2001, when some individuals requested the registration of political party. And based on that our parliament also made a decision in 2001, By a very large majority that the time has not come yet for political parties in the Maldives. So in that context, I have to say that we do not recognize any political party and we cannot do so under the present constitution. Once it is changed, then of course we will welcome. Infact, I myself had proposed the establishment of a multi-party political system.
ދުވަހުނޫސް އާފަތިސް:
އަޅުގަނޑުގެ ސުވާލަކީ، ދެންމެ މަނިކުފާނު ވިދާޅުވެއްޖެ، ޓޫރިޒަމް ދާއިރާއާއި އަދި ސައެންސް އެންޑް ޓެކްނޮލޮޖީގެ ދާއިރާއިންވެސް މަޝްވަރާތައް ފަށަންވީ ވާހަކަ. ދެން، ހޮޓެލް ސްކޫލް ޢިމާރާތްކުރުމުގެ ވާހަކަތައް ދެކެވެމުން އަންނަތާ މިހާރު އަޅުގަނޑަށް ހީވަނީ ގާތްގަނޑަކަށް ފަނަރަވަރަކަށް އަހަރުވެސް ވެދާނެހެން. އެހެންވީމާ، ކިހާވަރެއްގެ ޔަގީން ކަމެއް އެބައޮތްތޯ، މި ދަތުރުފުޅާ ގުޅިގެން އިންޑިއާ ސަރުކާރުން އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް ހޮޓެލް ސްކޫލް އަޅައިދެއްވާނެކަމުގެ؟ ދެން، ސައެންސް އެންޑް ޓެކްނޮލޮޖީގެ ދާއިރާއިން ކޮންކަހަލަ ކަންތައްތަކެއްތޯ އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް ލިބިގެންދާނީ؟
ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ:
އާދެ، ފުރަތަމަބައި އެއީ އަޅުގަނޑުމެންގެ ހޮޓެލް ސްކޫލް ކަންތައް. އެކަންތައް ދެ ޤައުމު ދޭތެރޭގައި ވާހަކަ ދެކެވޭތާ ވަރަށް ގިނަ ދުވަސްވެއްޖެ، ތިޔަ ވިދާޅުވި ފަދައިން. ހަނދުމަފުޅު ހުންނާނެ ފަދައިން، 2002 ވަނަ އަހަރު، ޕްރައިމް މިނިސްޓަރ ވާޖްޕާއީ ރާއްޖެ ވަޑައިގެންނެވި ފަހަރު އަޅުގަނޑުމެންގެ ހޮޓެލް ސްކޫލްގެ ބިންގާ ވަނީ އަޅާފައި. ދެން، ދެ ޤައުމު ދޭތެރޭގައި އެކަން ކުރިއަށް ގެންދާނެގޮތަކާ ބެހޭގޮތުން ވާހަކަ ދެކެވެމުން މިދަނީ. މިފަހަރު ދަތުރުގައިވެސް އަޅުގަނޑު ދެއްކިން. މިހާރު، އިންޑިޔާ ސަރުކާރުން އެކަން ކުރާނެ އާކިޓެކްޓެއް އައިޑެންޓިފައި ކުރައްވައިފި. ދެން، އަދި އޭނާ ބޭނުންވާ ބައެއް މަޢުލޫމާތު، ދިވެހި ސަރުކާރުން މިހާރު ވަނީ އޭނާއަށް ފޮނުވާފައި.
އެހެންވީމާ، އަޅުގަނޑު ދެކޭގޮތުގައި، ވަރަށް އަވަހަށް ޢަމަލީ މަސައްކަތްތައް ފެށޭނެ. ދެން، މާލަހެއްނުވެ ޢިމާރާތްކުރަންވެސް ފެށޭނެ. ތިޔަ ވިދާޅުވި، ސައެންސް އެންޑް ޓެކްނޮލޮޖީގެ ދާއިރާއިން ދެ ޤައުމު ދޭތެރޭގައި އެއްބާރުލުން ކުރިއަށް ގެންދިޔުމަށްޓަކައި މަޝްވަރާ ކުރަމުންދާތާ ދުވަސްތަކެއްވެއްޖެ. އަޅުގަނޑުމެންގެ މިނިސްޓަރ އޮފް ކޮމިއުނިކޭޝަން، ސައެންސް އެންޑް ޓެކްނޮލޮޖީ، މިމަހު ވަނީ ނިއުދިއްލީއަށް ވަޑައިގެން ވާހަކަފުޅުދައްކަވާފައި. ދެން މިހާރު އެއްބަސްވެފައި މިއޮތީ، ވަރަށް އަވަހަށް މެމޮރެންޑަމް އޮފް އަންޑަރސްޓޭންޑިންގގައި ސޮއިކުރުމަށް. އޭގައި ހިމެނިފައި އޮންނާނެ، ކޮންކަހަލަ އެހީތަކެއްތޯ އިންޑިޔާ ސަރުކާރުން ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއަށް ދެވޭނީ. ޝައްކެއްނެތްގޮތުގައި، އައި.ޓީ. ދާއިރާއަކީ މިހާރުވެސް ވަރަށް މުހިންމު ދާއިރާއެއް. ރާއްޖޭގައިވެސް އެ ދާއިރާ ކުރިއަށް ގެންދެވޭތޯ ވަރަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރަމުން އެބަގެންދަން. އެހެންވީމާ، މި ދެންނެވި މެމޮރެންޑަމް އޮފް އަންޑަރސްޓޭންޑިންގ ނިމުނީމާ، އޭގައި ހުންނާނެ ހުރިހާ ކަންތައްތަކެއް ނިމިފައި.
Ms. Admilla George - The Associated Press:
I just have one more question. In your office, they concluded the constitutional reform would take around about a year, you said, could you be a bit more specific about the time that you expect, a date by which you think the constitutional reform will be in place?
The President:
It is very difficult to set a specific date. Because the only authority who came amend the constitution, according to our present constitution is the constitutional assembly. Which I referred to the People’s Special Majlis, they are setting, they are deliberating. We can’t, I can’t, myself enforce a date. But I have requested very strongly that they finish their work within one year. I hope they will.
Question:
Was there any discussion on enhancing defence co-operation, during your stays with Indian militia?
The President:
Yes, we dealt in all areas of our co-operation, including defence co-operation. As you probably know we have national security personnel being trained in India. We have discussed of further increasing the number of slots, that are made available to our candidates and also we have joined coastguard exercise program. An annual program, which we are conducting every year. So we have discussed these areas as well and what the support we need, specially in training of our military personnel and as well as police, will be provided by India.
Question:
Your Excellency, there were these reports of arrests that had taken place. I just want to know what is the number of, if any, of political prisoners in your country now?
The President:
Let me assure you there are no political prisoners in my country right now. Not a single political prisoner is there. I don’t know what arrest you are referring to. But if you are referring to arrests that were made last year, that was because of a mob demonstration and some violent action that people who were there resulted to. So the Government had to take action in order to maintain law and order. Persons were arrested. But after due investigations and as a result of an amnesty that was declared by me on the first of January everybody was released.
Question:
Mr. President, what is your political future given the fact that your office of presidency is limited to two terms in five years, and once it is adopted would you abide?
The President:
It is premature for me to say anything right now. When the new constitution comes into being, I will of course have to abide by it. I don’t know what they will say. But I have proposed that any one President can serve two terms only not more than that. So after the constitution is finalized. According to what it says I will of course do what is necessary.
Praime Vajpayee:
My name is Praime Vajpayee, a supplement to certain questions asked by my colleagues, how serious you came to threat that you talked of last year’s mob violence, number one, number two, when you talk of multi-party system, are you deciding two party or several parties as relevant from time to time.
The President:
Well, first of all, last year the situation was quite serious and I had to declare an emergency for the first time in my presidency for the past 26 years. But when things were restored to normal, I of course terminated the declaration of emergency in October. At that particular time it was quite serious. We were worried that things might get out of control and that there could be riots and various acts of destabilization. We could not afford to allow that, because our country’s relative prosperity has been attained on the basis of stability. We had been able to have political and social stability for the past three decades and that is why we have been able to achieve so much of progress that I mentioned in my statement. So we could not allow any destabilization of the country, any riots to take place, any violence to take place which might of course will make visitors reluctant to visit our country, which will of course undermine our economy. That is why we had to take action. But once things were back to normal, we terminated the declaration of emergency, and everything is back to normal right now. What was your second question?
Praime Vajpayee:
The second question was about the nature of the party system, that you may adopt or what you feel about it . Only two parties or more, what you see here or elsewhere?
The President:
I am proposing that there should be a multi-party political system, only as an idea. And is up to the majlis to decide whether they will have a lot of parties, a number of parties or two parties or what ever. But I believe that once that concept is agreed on. Then we must have some legal framework. We must have enact a law, under which all these things will become clear. I don’t imagine that there would be only two parties. There would be more. Anymore question? One more question? Yes please!
Question:
By any chance, do you feel that the resistance that you find today in Maldives to establish authority or the violence in the case last year, has anything to do with a such vital expansion from the equation in your country?
The President:
Well! Thank you for that question. In fact, I have been trying to develop an educated society. That has been the basis of my presidency over the past 26, 27 years, increasing education opportunities for young people. The number of our educated young people are now quite enormous. Let me just give you an example, about 20 years ago there were only 30 candidates who set for the GCE ordinary level examinations. Last year there were 7000 people. That is several hundred fold. So the increase in education leaves people to be more aware of the rights of what they can do and our population is very young and now a lot of them are quite educated and they have seen the world and how the world behaves in various ways and so I think it is time for us to modernize our systems and to allow for more liberalism, more freedom, more open Government, more transparency, more accountability so I think that is the basis for the new ideas that are coming in. I don’t call that a resistance to the Government. Because, I myself had been spousing reform from the very beginning. I have been a reformist from day one of my presidency and I am continuing to do that and this particular package is my own initiative. It is not something that I have been forced to do.
Question:
That way, can you briefly spell out, what was the reason for this. Or judgement, why this happened at all last year?
The President:
Well, I don’t want to go into that. Because I think that is a chapter that we have already closed. So, but I felt at that time there were no tips which were not quite apparent, not reform, there were some other objectives in minds of those people who created that problem.
Thank you, very much.