Improved relationship with Commonwealth is a success for President Waheed: Alliance

The 23rd December Alliance has stated that President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik’s visit to the UK to participate in the celebrations of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee was a sign that relationship between the Maldives and the UK. The Alliance also said that this was a success for President Waheed.

In a press conference held today, representatives of political parties and civil NGOs forming the Civil Alliance said that attempts had been made to destroy the age-long friendship between the Maldives and the Commonwealth.

“As of now, the President is in the UK, and he has met with the Head of the Commonwealth, and a lot of activities are being conducted. Hence, I would like to tell the people of the Maldives that officials of former government deliberately tried to ruin the friendship between our country and the Commonwealth. However, the invitation from the Queen for our President to participate in the ongoing event is an indication that our relationship is improving”, said Imran Abdullah, President of the Adhaalath Party.

Imran also said that the Civil Alliance was satisfied with the President’s policies and that all members of the Alliance congratulated the President. He also called upon supporters of the Alliance to be at the Official Jetty to welcome the President back tomorrow.

Ibrahim Shareef, Deputy Leader of the Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), another member of the Alliance, said that the Commonwealth “would not impose any kind of sanctions against the Maldives, and neither will it force us to do anything”.

“I have to say that the President’s visit to the UK on an invitation by the Commonwealth is a successful event. Opposition leaders have warned us that the Commonwealth would dismiss us, that the Commonwealth would impose economic sanctions against us, and that the Commonwealth would force us to conduct early presidential elections. But now it is proven that they are just empty talk, without an iota of truth”, said Shareef.

When asked why the Alliance is now describing improved relations with Commonwealth as success, after criticizing the Organisation saying that it was meddling with Maldivian internal affairs recently, Shareef said that they would “talk about it if an international Organization interferes in the internal affairs of the country, no matter how important that Organization is”. He said that the Commonwealth is important for the Maldives, and that the Alliance did not decide to leave Commonwealth, though some of the leaders of parties in the Alliance personally expressed such ideas.