Foreign Secretary Ahmed Latheef has stated that conflicts across the world has generated new challenges for smaller countries.

The Maldivian Foreign Secretary made the remarks in his statement delivered at the Summit-level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group in response to COVID-19 on post-pandemic global recovery held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Friday.

In his statement, Foreign Secretary Latheef expressed those conflicts across the world has generated new challenges for smaller countries.

The Foreign Secretary called on the international community to provide financing options to developing countries especially Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Foreign Secretary Latheef also highlighted the recovery efforts by the Government of Maldives during COVID-19 pandemic, including the initiative of the Government of Maldives to provide free vaccination to the vaccine-eligible population.

The Maldivian Foreign Secretary concluded his remarks by commending NAM for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and Member States of NAM to be resilient and unit to combat new and emerging threats.

Foreign Secretary Latheef was accompanied by Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mariyam Midhfa Naeem, and Assistant Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khadeejath Nizwee Rasheed.

The Non-Aligned Movement comprises of 120 Member States and is one of the largest international organizations after the United Nations. The Maldives joined NAM on 15 August 1976 and has been an active member in the organization.