Chair of all-party-talks, Minister Shainee meets with UN delegation

A United Nations delegation currently in Maldives, met with Fisheries Minister Dr. Mohamed Shainee on Monday.

According to the fisheries ministry, Shainee met with UN team on Monday and discussed on the current political situation in the country.

Both parties shared their views on the matter, added the ministry.

Minister Shainee is also the chair of the all-party talks launched by the government, and has lately been seen as President Abdulla Yameen's 'go-to-man' in dealing with the international community.

A delegation from the United Nations Department of Political Affairs Asia Division met with main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in late July as well.

This is their second trip to the Maldives in less than a month; an UNDPA delegation was in the country in early July as well.

A delegation of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs also visited the Maldives back in March, following the turmoil in the country due to the controversial ruling by the Supreme Court on February 1.

It had called on the government to lift the state of emergency, repeating call on the government and opposition to hold dialogue, in order to resolve the issues within the country, even offering to be a mediator in the process.

While Hindustan Times, citing UN spokesperson Farhan Haq, had reported that the Maldivian authorities had turned down the UN’s offer for mediation, Minister Shainee refuted this, saying that President Abdulla Yameen “has not rejected UN’s role in all-party talks”.

Instead, Shainee noted that “UN participation is a request by the President himself,” accusing the opposition of “blocking” the talks.