بســم اللّـه الرّحمـن الرّحيــم
السّـلام عليـكم
Prime minister of Bhutan has had a very fulfilling trip to the Maldives. We are very happy about a number of very good conversations that we have had with the Prime Minister.
We are glad that we are now able to takeover the chairmanship of SAARC at the end of this year with much more confidence after a very smooth handover by the Prime Minister. And we are also very grateful and very excited in a sense to explore the very many opportunities that are available for both countries to have deeper cooperation.
I thank the Prime Minister and I would like the Prime Minister to extend our well wishes to the King of Bhutan and to the people of Bhutan.
Before I handover to the Prime Minister I would like to say a few words in Dhivehi.
އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް ބޫޓާންގެ ޕްރައިމް މިނިސްޓަރާއެކު ވަރަށް ރަނގަޅު އަދި ހަރުދަނާ ތިން ދުވަސް ހޭދަކުރެވިއްޖެ. ދެޤައުމުގެ ދެމެދުގައި ނުހަނުގިނަ މަޝްވަރާތައް އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް ކުރެވިއްޖެ. އަދި ވަކިން ޚާއްޞަކޮށް ބޫޓާންގެ ޕްރައިމް މިނިސްޓަރަކީ، ސާކް ސަމިޓުގެ މިހާރުގެ ރިޔާސަތު ބަލަހައްޓަވާ ބޭފުޅާ. އެހެންވީމާ، 17ވަނަ ސާކް ސަމިޓް ރާއްޖޭގައި ބޭއްވޭއިރު އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް އެ ސަމިޓުގެ ކަންކަން ފުރިހަމަ ގޮތުގައި ހިންގުމަށް ލިބުނު ވަރަށްބޮޑު ހިތްވަރެއް މިވަގުތު ޕްރައިމް މިނިސްޓަރު ވަޑައިގެން، މިވަގުތުގެ ސާކުގެ ރިޔާސަތު ބަލަހައްޓަވާ ބޭފުޅާ ވަޑައިގެން އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނާ މަޝްވަރާތައްކޮށްދެއްވިކަމީ. އަދި ހަމައެހެންމެ، ސަރުކާރަށް އަދި އަޅުގަނޑު ހިތުން ރާއްޖޭގެ ވަރަށްގިނަ ރައްޔިތުންނަށާއި ވިޔަފާރީގެ އެކިއެކި ދާއިރާތަކުގައި އުޅުއްވާ ބޭފުޅުންނަށްވެސް މިބައްދަލުވުމުގެ، މިދަތުރުގެ ސަބަބުން ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއާއި ބޫޓާނާ ދެމެދު އޮންނަ ވިޔަފާރީގެ ގުޅުންތަކާއި އަދި އެހެންވެސް ގުޅުންތައް މިހާރަށްވުރެ ބޮޑަށް ފުޅާކުރުމުގެ ފުރުސަތުތަކެއް އިރާދަކުރެއްވިއްޔާ ފަހިވެގެންދާކަމީ އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް ނުހަނު ބޮޑު ހިތްވަރެއް ލިބޭ ކަމެއް. އަޅުގަނޑު ޕްރައިމް މިނިސްޓަރ އަރިހުން އެބަ އެދެން، ބޫޓާންގެ ރައްޔިތުންނަށާއި އަދި އެޤައުމުގެ ރަސްގެފާނަށް، ރަދުންނަށް، އަޅުގަނޑުމެންގެ ހެޔޮދުޢާއާއި ތަހުނިޔާ އަރިސްކޮށްދެއްވުމަށް. ޝުކުރިއްޔާ
Prime Minister of Bhutan:
Indeed as his Excellency the President has remarked it has been a most fulfilling visit for myself and my delegation to this country with which we share so many commonalities and with which we want to deepen our understanding and friendship and cooperation. Indeed this visit has enabled that considerably. Although for quite a few of us this is not the very first time that we are visiting the Maldives. This particular visit has been one that has offered a tremendous opportunity for a deeper understanding. And indeed during the quiet moments that we had to ourselves it has given us the opportunity also to reflect on what are the possibilities that we should explore as friends.
During the many conversations that I’ve had with His Excellency, with the ministers and the senior officials of this government we have been able to identify the many areas of cooperation, identify the ways in which we can collaborate and cooperate and these extend to almost every walk of life in the truest sense. For one we believe that as young democracies we have so much to share, young democracies are convinced by the same kind of beliefs, pursuing the same kind of values we believe, and then also perhaps challenged by similar kind of difficulties. We believe that we can learn from each other.
Certainly during this visit we have been inspired by the many achievements that the President Nasheed and his government have made in this very brief period of two years. I have no doubt that there is going to be further transformation all for the good: socially, economically and politically, during the remaining three year period and I wish to say that it has indeed been most satisfying in terms of the discussions we have had and we wish you to know Mr. President that you have our very best wishes as you pursue your dreams and ambitions for this great country.
We have been asked as to how we find the country, whether we have managed with the warmth coming from the cold of Bhutan, but I wish you to know that nobody has complained about the heat here. We did not feel the heat here at all. What we have felt is certainly warmth, friendship and goodwill from every Maldivian that we have met. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the President and his government for the gracious hospitality we have received and we indeed will be going back with wonderful memories of this visit.
I have no doubt that as President Nasheed assumes leadership over SAARC in November of this year we will all have reasons for faith, confidence and for a more vigorous, more dynamic association. I just realized that in November when Maldives takes over the Chairmanship of SAARC it will be led by the youngest Head of State or Government and supported by the youngest and first lady Secretary General SAARC. And I have no doubt that they will together demonstrate tremendous dynamism leading SAARC towards greater progress, cooperation and prosperity.
Thank You.
ޒިހުނަތު ޙަސަން - އެމް.އެން.ބީ.ސީ.ވަން:
މަނިކުފާނުގެ ވާހަކަފުޅުގައި ފާހަގަކުރައްވައިފި، ރިޔާސަތު ބަދަލު ކުރުމުގައި ސުމޫތު ޓްރާންސިޝަނަކަށްދާ ވާހަކަ. އެގޮތަށް މަސައްކަތް ކުރުމަށް، ބޫޓާނާ ގުޅިގެން ކިހިނެއްތޯ މިކަންތައްތައް ރާވާފައިއޮތީ؟ ކޮބައިތޯ މަނިކުފާނު ގެންގުޅުއްވާ ތަޞައްވުރަކީ މިކަމުގައި؟
ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ:
އަޅުގަނޑުމެން ސާކް ސަމިޓުގައި ބޭނުންވަނީ އާ ޤަރާރުތަކެއް ފާސްކުރުމުގެ ބަދަލުގައި، މީގެކުރީގައި ފާސްކުރެވިފައިހުރި ޤަރާރުތައް، ނިންމިފައި ހުރި ނިންމުންތައް ހޯދައިބަލައި، އެ ނިންމުންތައް ތަންފީޒު ކުރުމުގައި ދިމާވެފައި ހުރި ދަތިތަކެއް ހުރިތޯއާއި، އެދަތިތަކެއް ހުރިނަމަ އެދަތިތަކެއް ހުރަސްކޮށް އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް މިހާރު ސާކުގެ ޤައުމުތަކުގެ މެދުގައި ނިންމިފައިހުރި ކަންކަމުގައި ކުރިއަށްދެވޭތޯ މަސައްކަތްކުރުން. ދެން ވަކިން ޚާއްޞަކޮށް މިސަރުކާރުން އަދި މިސަމިޓުގައި ކުރިއެރުވޭތޯ އަޅުގަނޑުމެން މަސައްކަތް ކުރަމުން މިއަންނަނީ ގުޅުމުގެ އެއީ، ދަތުރުފަތުރުކުރުމުގެ ގުޅުމާއި، މުވާޞަލާތީ ގުޅުމާއި، މަޢްލޫމާތު ބަދަހިކުރުމުގެ ގުޅުން، މިބާވަތުގެ ގުޅުންތަކަށް ވަކިން އިތުރަށް ޚާއްޞަ އަހަންމިއްޔަތުކަމެއްދީގެން އެގުޅުންތައް ސާކުގެ ޤައުމުތަކުގެ މެދުގައި އިތުރު ކުރެވޭތޯ ބެލުން.
ޢަބްދުއްލަޠީފް އާދަމް - މިއަދު ނޫސް:
އަޅުގަނޑު ސުވާލު ހަމަ އަމާޒުކޮށްލަނީވެސް ރައީސް ނަޝީދަށް. ދެން އަޅުގަނޑު މައްސަލައެއް ނެތް، މި ސުވާލު ބޫޓާންގެ ޕްރައިމް މިނިސްޓަރަށް ޕާސްކުރެއްވިޔަސް. މިހާރު ރޭގައި ބޫޓާންގެ ޕްރައިމް މިނިސްޓަރ ވިދާޅުވެއްޖެ، ބައެއް ވަޒީރުންނާ ބައްދަލުކުރައްވައި އެކިކަންކަމާ ބެހޭގޮތުން މަޝްވަރާ ކުރައްވާފައިހުރި ވާހަކަ މިދަތުރުފުޅުގައި. އެހެންނަމަވެސް، އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް އެއްވެސް ކަހަލަ ތަފްޞީލެއް އަދި މިހާތަނަށް ލިބިފައިނެތީމާ. މިސާލަކަށް އަޅުގަނޑުމެން މިހާރު އެންމެ ކަންބޮޑުވާ ދާއިރާތައް ކަމަށްވާ މަތީތަޢްލީމު ޙާޞިލުކުރުން، ޞިއްޙީ ދާއިރާ މިބާވަތުގެ އެއްވެސް ކަމެއްގައި އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް ބޫޓާންގެ އެހީތެރިކަން ލިބޭ ކަހަލަ އެއްވެސް ކަހަލަ މަޝްވަރާއެއް ކުރެވިފައިވޭތޯ؟
President Nasheed:
Prime Minister, the gentleman is asking to give more details on your meetings with the Ministers as these meetings took place this morning. I think it will be only appropriate if you could say a few words.
Prime Minister of Bhutan:
We have held extensive discussions with the government of Maldives beginning with His Excellency the President and his entire Cabinet the day before yesterday. And today we met with key Ministers of the government these include the Minister for Home Affairs, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Minister for Health Services and the Minister for Economic Affairs. And during these meetings we discussed a wide range of topics including among others, how we can learn from each others experiences and the kind of cooperation that we should extend to each other including exchange of visits and so on. I also had a very good meeting with the Secretary General of the SAARC Secretariat this morning as well.
Hawwa Lubna - Sun Online:
My question is to the Prime Minister. Maldives has been talking about developing a cargo ferry system between the SAARC countries. How much does Bhutan support this project?
Prime Minister of Bhutan:
Wholeheartedly. Bhutan is fully supportive of any kind of initiative coming from any direction within the SAARC family that will enhance the movement of goods and services and people between and among our countries. And this initiative to promote the ferry and freight services within our region has been initiated by his Excellency the President and I hope to be able to see the passage of this proposal in the next Summit. In particular this morning during our discussions as well, we talked about how to begin with this would be a project that should benefit, to begin with the three countries Southern India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. And if it works here then we could spread this to cover the rest of the countries. Bhutan and Nepal would benefit through the Bay of Bengal and Afghanistan would have its access to the sea through Pakistan.
ޙައްވާ ލުބްނާ - ސަން އޮންލައިން:
މަނިކުފާނު އައްޑޫގައި ސާކް ސަމިޓު ބޭއްވުމަށް ނިންމެވުމާ ގުޅިގެން ހަމަ ވަރަށްގިނަ ފަރާތްތަކުން އެ ނިންމެވުމާމެދު ސުވާލު ކުރައްވަމުން ގެންދެވި. ދެން މިހާރު ސާކް ސަމިޓަށް ކުޑަތަންވަމުން އަންނައިރުގައި އައްޑޫގައި ސާކް ސަމިޓު ބޭއްވުމުގެ ތައްޔާރީތަކާމެދުވެސް އެބަ ސުވާލު އުފެދޭ. އެހެންވީމާ މަނިކުފާނު ކިހާ ވަރަކަށް ބައްލަވަންތޯ އޭތި ވީހާވެސް ސުމޫތްކޮށް ވީހާވެސް އޮމާންކަމާއެކު އައްޑޫގައި ސާކްސަމިޓު ބޭއްވުމަށް ކަންތައްތައް ކުރިއަށްދާކަމާމެދު؟
ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ:
ދުވާލަކު ދެފަހަރު.
ޙައްވާ ލުބުނާ – ސަން އޮންލައިން:
ކުޑަކޮށް ތަފްޞީލު ދެއްވަފާނަންތޯ؟
ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ:
އަޅުގަނޑު ވަރަށްބޮޑު ޔަޤީންކަމެއް އެބައޮތް އަޅުގަނޑުމެން ކަނޑައަޅާފައި މިއޮތް ވަގުތުތަކަށް ނިންމޭނެކަމަށް، ދެން ތިބޭފުޅާގެ ސުވާލަކީ އަޅުގަނޑު ކިހާވަރަކަށް ބަލާތޯ. އަޅުގަނޑު ބަލާ އަދަދަކީ ދުވާލަކު ދެފަހަރު. ދެން އަޅުގަނޑަށް ހީވަނީ މަސައްކަތްތައް ބަރާބަރަށް ރަނގަޅަށް އެބަ ހިނގާހެން. ދެން އަޅުގަނޑަކަށް މިމަސައްކަތްތައް ބާރަށް ނުހިނގާނެ ކަމަކަށް ލަފައެއް ނުކުރެވޭ. ހަމަ ބާރަށް އެބަދޭ. ހުރިހާ ކޮންޓްރެކްޓެއް އެހެރީ ކުރެވިފައި. ހުރިހާ ފައިސާއެއް އެހުރީ ހަމަޖެހިފައި. ހުރިހާ އިންތިޒާމުތަކެއް އެހުރީ ހަމަޖެހިފައި. ދެން މީގައި އޮންނާނީ ބުއްދިވެރިކަމާއި ޙިކްމަތްތެރިކަމާއި ކެތްތެރިކަމާއެކީގައި މަސައްކަތް ކުރަމުން ގެންދިޔުން. އަޅުގަނޑަށް ފެންނަނީ ރަނގަޅުވާނެ ކަމަށް.
ޙައްވާ ލުބްނާ - ސަން އޮންލައިން:
އަދި ހަމަ ސާކް ސަމިޓު ބާއްވާއިރުގައި އެކިޤައުމުތަކުގެ ވެރިން ވަޑައިގަންނަވާއިރުގައި ކިހާވަރަކަށް ސެކިއުރިޓީގެ ކަންތައްތައް ވަރުގަދަކޮށްފައިތޯ އޮންނާނީ؟
ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ:
އެއީ، ބަހުސް މިހާރު ހިނގާ ކަމެއް އިނގޭތޯ. އެމް.އެން.ޑީ.އެފް. އިންނާއި އަދި އިންޑިޔާގެ ސިފައިން މިއެދެނީ، ވަރަށް ވަރުގަދަ އާމަޑް ކާތަކާއި، އެބާވަތުގެ ސެކިއުރިޓީ ގެންނަން. ދިވެހި ސަރުކާރުން މިއެދެނީ ތަންކޮޅެއް ރަޙްމަތްތެރި ގޮތަކަށް ސެކިއުރިޓީ ބެލެހެއްޓޭނެ ގޮތެއް ހޯދައިދެއްވުމަށް. ދެން އެހެންވީމާ، އެވާހަކަތައް ދެކެވެމުން އެދަނީ. އެހެނަސް އަޅުގަނޑު ޔަޤީންކޮށް އަރުވަނީ، އަޅުގަނޑަށް އެމް.އެން.ޑީ.އެފް.ވެސް ޔަޤީންކޮށް އަރުވަނީ، ސެކިއުރިޓީގެ އެއްވެސް މައްސަލައެއް އިރާދަކުރެއްވިއްޔާ ސަމިޓާ ގުޅިގެން ނުހިނގާނެޔޭ. ހުރިހާ ވެރިންވެސް އަދި މީގެކުރީގައިވެސް ވެރިން ރާއްޖެ ވަޑައިގަންނަވާ. އަދި މިފަހަރު ސާކަށްވެސް ސާކް ޤައުމުތަކުގެ ވެރިންގެ އިތުރުންވެސް ބައެއް ވެރިން ވަޑައިގެންފާނެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް، ސެކިއުރިޓީގެ ކަންކަން އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް މިދެންނެވިހެން ވަރަށް އެކުވެރި މާޙައުލެއްގައި އެހާގިނަ، ބަރު މެޝިނަރީއާއި އަދި އެކިއެކި ބާވަތްތައް ބޭނުންނުކޮށް އެކުވެރި މާޙައުލެއްގައި ސެކިއުރިޓީގެ ކަންތައް އިރާދަކުރެއްވިއްޔާ ހަމަޖެހޭތޯ އަޅުގަނޑުމެން މިއަންނަނީ މަސައްކަތް ކުރަމުން.
Abdul Latheef Adam - Miadhu Daily:
I would like to ask one more question from the Buhtan Prime Minister. Although geologically we have a lot of differences, you are up in the mountains we are low in the sea, but since you have been here before, so you know a bit about our country as well, so do you think because of these trips and what you have seen here this time both countries have a chance of developing tourism bilateral understanding?
Prime Minister of Bhutan:
Yes, there are many parallels. Despite that fact as you said that one is located on the surface of the ocean, the other in the mountains we see many parallels. For instance we are both countries that have so far promoted high end tourism, and we are now exploring ways and means to ensure that such a policy and such a program does not exclude the participation of the larger section of our people in particular.
Here in the Maldives the people in the remote parts, in the remote islands of this country and in Bhutan we want to ensure that the rural folk will be able to participate in tourism and so we are looking at, just as you are the various opportunities we could create for participation by a broader section of our population. We feel that there is certainly the possibility of combining the tourism products that we could offer to visitors.
For instance I’m told that some of the visitors, the major visitors to the Maldives like to visit at least two countries. And we thought, I talked with the President about how we could offer in one trip, a visit to the low lying islands, the coral islands of the Maldives, sun and sea. And at the same time the snow and the cold of the mountains in Bhutan on one trip.
So such collaborations are possible. And culturally again I think it would be very interesting and quite possible for us to package the fact that different as we are, we share a common heritage again.
We find that Maldives, Yesterday when we visited the museum we were amazed to discover the wealth of your cultural heritage and in particular we note the Maldives at one time was a place where the same kind of Buddhism that flourishes in Bhutan at one time prevailed here as well. Certainly a tremendous amount of cooperation including among others ideas, ways and means to ensure that tourism does not have adverse impacts on our society and the ecology and so on.
President Nasheed:
Well, thank you very much Prime Minister. We wish you a safe journey home and all the best.
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