President says development opportunities must be equal to the freedoms guaranteed by the UN

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that the freedom to decide the Maldives’ future, together with the ability to achieve national goals and aspirations, is essential to realising the country’s ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2040.

In a message on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the United Nations, the President said the Maldives’ freedom to determine its future must be matched with the resources and pathways needed to achieve national objectives. He noted that investing in the development of the people, strengthening the economy and remaining vigilant against external challenges are key to achieving this goal.

The President said the credibility of the United Nations can only be built through respect for international law and consistency in the implementation of international commitments. However, he noted that unequal application of international treaties has contributed to declining trust in the Organisation.

He cited the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, as well as the limited access to finance and technological resources faced by small island developing states, as examples of the fractures affecting global trust and development.

The President said the UN must remain an organisation that respects the rights of all countries and listens to the voices of all nations. He reaffirmed that the Maldives will continue to stand with the international community to defend peace and uphold justice.