Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives Abdulla Shahid has been granted Honorary membership of the International Association of Permanent Representatives (IAPR).

Minister Shahid received the Honorary membership of IAPR as a result of his successful work as the 76th President of the United Nations General Assembly. His work as the Foreign Minister of Maldives in developing the  Maldives Foreign Service was highly noted along with his services to the UN.

Minister Shahid stated that he is honored to receive honorary membership of the International Association of Permanent Representatives.

International Association of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations was founded in 1988 in New York by thirteen Permanent Representatives from Argentina, the Bahamas, China, France, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Tunisia, Venezuela and Zambia.

The purpose of Association is to serve as a forum between former and active Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, to maintain communication between them and to serve as a focal point for their involvement in the activities of various international institutions and forums.