The United Nations "is vital to effectively carry out the domestic and international agenda of the current Maldivian administration," says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Solih, who is currently in New York to take part in the 74th United Nations General Assembly, said this during a meeting with UN Secretary António Guterres.
The two met on the sidelines of the UNGA on Friday, at the UN Headquarters.
At the meeting, President Solih expressed appreciation for the work undertaken by Guterres since being appointed as secretary general in 2017, and especially noted his “unwavering commitment in building friendly ties between nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.”
Solih emphasized that these are all “key priorities” for his government.
The president and secretary general also discussed ways of collaboration and avenues of cooperation between Maldives and the UN.
Also at the meeting, Guterres expressed that the UN “is always willing to be of assistance” to the Maldives.
While this was the first time a Maldivian leader participated at the UN general assembly in nearly seven years, President Solih said that it was a “great privilege” for him to be able to do so during the first year of presidency.
President Solih covered various issues during his nearly 20-minute long address at UNGA on Tuesday, including climate change, terrorism, return to democracy and the key challenges faced by his administration since taking office last November.
Also noting that the problems of current times “are extraordinary,” Solih emphasized that the world needs the UN “now more than ever.”
“We need to remind ourselves of the horrors that led to the formation of this institution. Let me jog our collective memory: The United Nations was formed out of the ashes of two devastating world wars in which more than a hundred million people were killed. It was borne out of a belief in the sanctity of human freedom and of self-determination, which means even small nations have a voice on the global stage. Its charter privileged peace and international cooperation, so that we may avoid wars and enjoy the dividends of our peaceful co-existence. We need the United Nations because the problems of our times are extraordinary. Extraordinary because none of us alone can resolve them. We need the strength of the collective to fix the challenges of our times”
