Independence was and is clearly interwoven with interdependence: FM Shahid

For the Maldives, independence was and is clearly interwoven with interdependence, says Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid.

He made this remark while speaking at a virtual conference hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to celebrate the 55th anniversary of independence for Heads of Missions accredited to the Maldives.

As such, the minister noted that Maldives belief that independence is interwoven with interdependence is the reason President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s foreign policy is “geared towards fortifying existing ties and establishing new ones”.

FM Shahid went on to note that the international community played a vital role in helping the Maldives overcome the many challenges and hurdles it faced at independence.

As such, the minister noted that it is with the support of the international community and “many friends” that the Maldives overcame the many challenges and hurdles it faced at independence, confronted the many challenges and crises throughout the years and achieved many successes it has achieved to date

In light of this, the country thanks development partners for their continued support and being part of our development story, said the minister.

FM Shahid pointed out that Maldives was the smallest country to have become and independent nation, 55 years ago, adding that the country was “certainly” the poorest independent country at the time.

Further, he proudly noted that to date, the country has established formal diplomatic relations with 172 countries out of the 193 UN members and will continue to intensify and revitalize these mutually beneficial development partners.

FM Shahid expressed appreciation for the many partners that have already reached out and extended a helping hand to the island nation, at the same time the impact of the Covid-19 is estimated to be larger, resulting in “much larger requirements”.

The whole world is in the same storm but in different boats today, said the Maldives minister, adding that this is the reason cooperation is of utmost importance.

It is also the reason why interdependence is key and this is why partnership is the way forward, said the minister.

Expressing hope that the country will soon have the opportunity to hold face-to-face meetings and celebrate the existing and revitalized partnerships between the countries that define and sustain the Maldives, FM Shahid noted that the Maldives is inviting the world to partner with the Maldivian people in order to make this nation a resilient nation.