“Today, Maldivians epitomize what the UN stands for; equality for all”

Today, Maldivians epitomize what the UN stands for; equality for all, says President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid.

During a joint press conference held at the President’s Office following the PGA’s courtesy call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Wednesday morning, Shahid revealed that his homecoming is doubly special as the country celebrates its success as a nation, as a member of the international community and its success as a country having been accepted and respected in the international community.

Highlighting that it was just 55 years ago on 26 July 1965 that the Maldives achieved full independence, PGA Shahid noted that it led to the formulation and execution of a free country’s own policy.

The same year in September, Maldives joined the UN, as one of the smallest members of the organization.

However, today, President Solih and the Maldivian people have shown that “size does not determine ability”, nor does it determine destiny.

Shedding light on his “Presidency of Hope”, Shahid revealed that he was posed the question on “Why hope”, several times. Shahid revealed that it lies in the Maldives.

As such, highlighting that Maldives is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world, to environmental disasters, climate change, economic shock, supply chain disruptions and others, Shahid noted that it is easy to be cynical and to give up hope in the face of such vulnerability.

However, Maldivian do not give up, said a proud UNGA President, who asserted that Maldivians “dust ourselves off”, “pick ourselves up” and “try again”.

During the press, it was revealed that the Maldives President and UNGA President discusses areas of interest including impacts of climate change on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and discussed on ways to enhance international involvement in such efforts through an inclusive arrangement.

PGA Shahid thanked the Maldivian president for inviting him to the Maldives in his capacity as UNGA President and applauded the Solih administration’s success in the international arena, linked to the firm foreign policy of the administration.