Present government has the capability to restore good relations with India: Gayoom

President of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that even though he does not work in his personal capacity to restore good relations with India, the present government is perfectly capable of achieving that.

Gayoom said this while talking to reporters at the airport, upon his return after a medical visit to Malaysia with wife Nasreena Ibrahim.

He said that the present government can restore good ties with India and that President Waheed is a well-respected person. Gayoom said that President Waheed will restore the ties in a manner that is most beneficial to the Maldivian people.

“I don’t intend to take action to strengthen ties between Maldives and India. I am not part of the government. I am the president of a political party in the Maldives. Our political party does not need to take action regarding this. I believe that the present government has the capability to do that. The president is also well respected and capable,” he said.

When asked by Sun if the weakened ties with India are a result of negligence by a particular group, Gayoom said that it is not the result of negligence by any group or person. He said that it was not brought about following the actions of any person, and that relations between countries develop and change with time.

“I don’t believe that any group was negligent or that this was caused by the actions of a particular group. Relations between countries develop and change throughout time. It takes different shapes. Different opinions will be expressed. A country may comment on the situations of other countries. We also comment, don’t we? We’ve been talking about the Palestine issue. We condemn Israel’s actions,” he said.

Regarding the issue of former President Mohamed Nasheed being inside the Indian High Commission, Gayoom said that Nasheed has served as president of Maldives and therefore deserves respect and honour, but at the same time, the country’s laws should also be exercised.

A large crowd had gathered to welcome him as he arrived in Male’ at the official jetty.