The current administration is working to restore diplomatic relations with “all nations”, says Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.
Shahid said this after being presented to parliament on Wednesday, for questioning regarding the government’s plans to restore ties with Qatar.
Maldives followed Saudi Arabia and several other Arab nations, and severed diplomatic ties with the Middle Eastern nation in June 2017. While the country opted to maintain economic ties, former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration had said that the decision was made because of the country’s “firm opposition to activities that encourage terrorism and extremism.”
Kaashidhoo constituency MP Abdulla Jabir had proposed to question the minister over the matter, at a sitting held on June 2. However, there was a delay in questioning the minister as he was out of the country on official business when the required 14-day notice period ended.
While the MP questioned Shahid on whether any work is being done to restore severed ties with Qatar, he responded that work is being done to mend ties with all nations.
Highlighting that severing ties “is the last step taken” by nations, Minister Shahid emphasized that restoring ties “is not easy.”
He added that the current government has been working “restlessly” to restore ties with all nations.
Noting that the country’s foreign policy gives priority to the people’s interests, the minister assured that the government will continue to work as such.
In addition to Qatar, Maldives cut ties with Iran in May 2017.
While this decision came months after Saudi Arabia did the same, in January that year after Iranian protesters stormed its embassy in Tehran, the foreign ministry had said that this was because Iran pursues policies that are “detrimental to peace and security in the [Middle East and Arab Gulf] region, which in many ways, is also linked to stability, peace and security of the Maldives.”
Former President Yameen’s administration had also cut economic ties with Myanmar in September 2017, condemning “the atrocities committed against the Rohingya Muslim community.”
