Budget constraints force President to cancel overseas visits

President Mohamed Nasheed has decided to call off all overseas visits planned for 2009.

The decision was made as a measure to reduce costs on account of the country’s serious budgetary constraints.

The cancelled visits include: the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September; the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port of Spain in November; and the COP 15 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December.

The President said he regretted cancelling his participation in foreign summits. He said that he understands the importance of personally representing the Maldives abroad, in particular at the Copenhagen conference in December where world leaders will negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Protocol.

The President has campaigned hard for nations to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions, which cause climate change.

First Lady Laila Ali has also decided to call off a planned visit to New York to participate in a conference on autism.

Last week, the cabinet decided to take several austerity measures to reduce government expenditure. The measures include a 20% pay cut for political appointees ranked deputy minister and above.

Speaking at a press conference on 3 August, President Nasheed said spending cuts were necessary to reduce government debt.

In assuming power in November 2008, President Nasheed’s administration inherited an external debt of US$462.6 in addition to Rf3.3 billion of domestic debt.

This year, the President will only undertake overseas visits that are sponsored by third parties.