The Maldivian government remains committed to work with the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) to address shared challenges, says Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid.
FM Shahid made this remark while delivering the Maldives’ national statement at the 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the OACPS.
Expressing pride that the archipelago nation has become a full member of the OACPS, FM Shahid highlighted that it was a historic day, as the African nations have extended their hands and embraced the Maldives and included them in the OACPS family.
Today, I stand here proud. Proud that the Maldives has become a full member of the Organization for African, Caribbean and Pacific States. Today is also a historic day. The African nations - our immediate neighbors to the West - have extended their hands and embraced us. Included us in your family - the African family. Our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean and the Pacific have received us.”Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister.
Highlighting that the common values, hopes for a fairer, just and peaceful world as well as shared challenges have bound us together, FM Shahid noted that our similarity surpasses oceans. As such, he said that as a small island developing state, Maldives sought a group of countries who acknowledged its "special" situation.
He stated that Maldives wanted to move closer to those who were willing to lend it a helping hand, as a vulnerable nation, which he said is why the island nation’s decision to apply for full membership “only felt natural”.
FM Shahid assured that the Maldives is ready to engage now that it has become a full member of the OACPS.
Going on to note that Maldives did not become a member to reap the benefits, FM Shahid assured that the island nation is ready to share its experiences and have a compelling story that elevated the island nation from being the sixth poorest country in the world at independence in 1965, to just the third country to graduate towards becoming a middle-income country in 2011.
He said that the Maldives is a country that continues to steer through the dire global economic situation, despite its inherent vulnerabilities.
FM Shahid assured that Maldives will contribute and work to achieve the shared objectives, as a constructive and reliable partner.
Our journey here would not have been possible without your strong support. From every single Maldivian citizen, I thank you for trusting us and for believing in us. For accepting us into the family. For the support and solidarity. And the friendship. For that, we will stand in solidarity with you.”Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister.
Highlighting that Maldives intends to “hit the ground running”, FM Shahid touched upon the Georgetown Agreement signed on Friday, adding that the Maldives will take steps to accede to the Cotonou Agreement without delay.
Further, he said that he envisions the OACPS playing a leading role in finding solutions to the shared challenges.
The Maldivian minister added that the destinies of OACPS and the Maldives are “inseparably linked”, despite being oceans apart.
FM Shahid concluded the national statement by thanking the OACPS for its invaluable support and for welcoming the Maldives into its family.
Held under the theme “3 Continents, 3 Oceans, 1 Common Destiny: Towards a more sustainable and resilient OACPS”, the summit is being held in Luanda, Angola.
FM Shahid departed for Angola on Wednesday evening, as President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s special envoy.
He is leading a delegation of high-level government officials.
The island nation has been accorded full membership at the OACPS, months after being given the "Observer Status" back in June this.
All member states of the organization recently supported the island nation’s application for full membership during the Council of Ministers Meeting held in Brussels, Belgium, from November 27 – 28.
