The opposition coalition has met with Mari Yamashita, Director of United Nations (UN) Department of Political Affairs, Asia Pacific Division.
In a tweet on Tuesday, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) tweeted that the Joint Opposition has briefed the UNDPA team on the situation in Maldives.
The delegation from the opposition consists of former parliament speaker Abdulla Shahid, Adhaalath Party foreign relations committee chair Shidhatha Shareef, Maduvarri MP Mohamed Ameeth, and Jumhooree Party deputy leader Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan.
In the tweet, MDP said they “discussed the current political situation as well as need for international community's support in ensuring free and fair elections in the Maldives.”
Joint Opposition officials met with UN DPA Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Mari Yamashita, today and discussed the current political situation as well as need for international community's support in ensuring free and fair elections in the Maldives pic.twitter.com/UP3T4pB2Sk
— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) July 10, 2018
The team earlier met with Foreign Secretary Ahmed Sareer.
According to a tweet sent by the UN department, the team is on a follow-up visit to Maldives "to engage with the Government, political parties and civil society representatives".
On a follow-up working visit to #Maldives for the next three days, @UN_DPA team arrives in #Male to engage with the Government, political parties, and civil society representatives
— UN in the Maldives (@UNMaldives) July 10, 2018
The UN has repeatedly called on the government and opposition to hold dialogue, even offering to be a mediator, in order to resolve the issues within the country.
UNDPA team is in the Maldives for the second time in less than six months. The department plays a central role in the efforts to prevent and resolve conflict around the world.
