Maldives calls on foreign countries not to interfere with internal affairs

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Mariyam Shakeela has called on foreign countries not to interfere with the internal affairs of the Maldives.

In her statement at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly today, the Foreign Ministry said that she alluded to “the concerted efforts by external forces to prevent the emergence of an indigenous democratic system of governance in the Maldives [by] attempting to shape the outcome of, what is, an internal issue”.

Dr Shakeela reminded the United Nations that non-interference in internal affairs is a core principle of the UN Charter which was reinforced by Maldives led resolutions 44/51, 46/43 and 49/31 on “The Protection and Security of Small States”.

The resolutions 44/51, 46/43 and 49/31 were submitted to the General Assembly by the Maldives following the armed aggression against the Maldives in 1988, and passed by the General Assembly in 1989, 1991 and 1995.

Referring to the resolutions’ acknowledgement of the particular vulnerabilities of small states to external threats and acts of interference in internal affairs of sovereign states, Dr Shakeela called on the United Nations to act as the ultimate guarantor of the security of small states like the Maldives.

Dr Shakeela went on to say that democracy consolidation is the most pressing challenge for the Maldives, and that democracy consolidation is not just about holding elections or having a democratically sound Constitution. She said that institution building and reform still remain a key challenge for the Maldives.

The Maldives delegation at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly is headed by Dr Shakeela. She is the first Maldivian woman to deliver the Maldives delegation’s main statement at a General Assembly session.