Relations between India and Maldives were there before Nasheed was born: Dr Samad

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdul Samad Abdullah has said that former President Mohamed Nasheed was not the one to establish relations between Maldives and India - these relations existed before he was born.

“Security arrangements between the two countries were there before Mr Nasheed was born. The first comprehensive security agreement was struck in 1974,” Dr Samad said.

Nasheed was born in 1968.

In an interview with The Hindu during his recent visit to India, Dr Samad said that security relations between India and Maldives were not established because of Nasheed, but because of the strategic location of Maldives:

“If India has strengthened its security ties with Maldives, it is not because of Mr. Nasheed but because Maldives is located at a very important place where many superpowers will be taking interest.”

Dr Samad expressed confidence that India “would not like to deal only with one faction of Maldivian politics”.

The Minister said that investigations have commenced into why the country’s external debt has ballooned from Rf 9 billion to Rf 23 billion, and also into the issue of 400 islands allegedly being given to MDP supporters for developing resorts.

“The government did not get anything from the grant of islands and shallow reefs, and these were sold to foreigners. Now how do we deal with the foreign buyers? Maldivian courts don't have the capacity. The Tourism Ministry is very upset because it wanted to make better use of the functioning 100 ones and another 60 that haven't been able to take off. We are investigating and so far there is no conclusive evidence. The whole idea is not to go to court or convict some people,” Dr Samad told The Hindu.