President Solih returns after historic trip to attend 76th UNGA session

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed have returned from their trip to the states to attend the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The first couple was joined by a high-level Maldivian delegation on the trip, which concluded on Sunday.

President Solih and First Lady Fazna touched down at the Velana International Airport (VIA) on Tuesday morning.

President Solih delivered his General Debate Statement at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in Dhivehi, marking a historic moment for the Maldives. The Maldivian president was granted the rare privilege of delivering his remarks on the third speaking slot on the first day of the high-level General Debate on September 21.

During his address, the Maldivian president expressed pride in addressing the presidency of the UNGA in Maldives’ mother tongue; Dhivehi.

He urged the global community to work together in solidarity and unity to achieve ambitions together as one. He said this while applauding the “Presidency of Hope” of the PGA, Abdulla Shahid, noting that the title is highly appropriate, owing to the fact that hope is a highly desirable commodity in these difficult times.

On the sidelines of the 76th UNGA, the president participated in several bilateral and multilateral sessions with state and government leaders and engaged in several important and productive meetings.

Solih attended a meeting convened by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, titled the Climate Moment.

He also joined the panel on Transformative Action for Nature and People, held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

Further, the Maldivian president also took part in the online session of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Leaders' Summit 2021.

Solih engaged in discussions with the UNSG as well as PGA Shahid, where he invited the latter to visit Maldives in his capacity as PGA.

Some of the world leaders the president met throughout the course of his visit include the President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, President of the Republic of Cape Verde Jorge Carlos Fonseca, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President of the Republic of Palau Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. and the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

Further, the trip saw doors opened for First Lady Fazna Ahmed with several opportunities to expand cooperation and new mutually beneficial partnerships. As such, she participated in an event focusing around the youth community, titled “Unlock the Future”.

She met the Head of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office Marco Suazo, Executive Director of the Global Foundation for the Performing Arts (GFPA) Lucia J. Guo and pianist on the GFPA's artist roster, Byron Zhou where discussions revolved around the initiation of music art therapy in the Maldives.

She also met with Interim CEO of Girl Guides USA Judith Batty and the Director of Global Girl Scouting, Girl Guides USA Adwoa Aidoo.

Further, the First Lady attended the book launching event for "My Travels to Africa" by the First Lady of Turkey Emine Erdogan.

Maldives marks a turning point in history during the 76th UNGA session, after the election of Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid as the president of the session, in June.

President Solih addressed the 74th United Nations General Assembly in New York, during September 2019 for the first time. It was not only Solih’s first visit to the UNGA, but it was also the first time a Maldivian head of state was present in over seven years.