Important for opposition to come up with alternatives rather than criticize the gov’t-Blake

United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake has said that it is important for them to come together and not simply criticize what the government is doing but also come up with their own alternative, if they have an alternative, and then to negotiate in good faith to try to get an agreement plan.

Speaking to local press after at the American Corner in the National Library, US Assistant Secretary of State Blake said that “this is because I think the most important thing is to gain momentum to reduce budget deficit, so to put the economy on a formal financial fitting while at the same time continuing the process.”

In light of the continuous protests held every night since Saturday night on the escalation of the price of commodities and services, the US Assistant Secretary of State said that he encourages the government and the opposition to work together to try to tackle some of these problems that Maldives is now facing.

“Even in older more established democracies such as our own, politicians can find it difficult to work together across party lines in the spirit of fairness and bipartisanship for the sake of governing well. They do however when everyone benefits,” he said.

Blake said the US “very much values our relationship with the Maldives.” He assured that the United States understand the many challenges that the people of Maldives and their elected representatives are tackling as this young democracy continues to gain strength.

“As many new democracies, the transition to functioning system of cheques and balances between the branches of government presents challenges,” he said.

But I was very pleased that President Mohamed Nasheed reaffirmed in our meeting his strong commitment to freedom of assembly in particular.

The US Assistant Secretary of State congratulated the Maldives on successfully holding its first ever local council elections, which he said was “vigorously, peacefully and fairly contested.”

He further underscored the Maldives’ role in engaging at the international level on global issues, especially the prominent role the Maldives is playing on the UN Human Rights Council.

He said “"The Maldives influence internationally far outstrips its size."

"President Nasheed is one of the world's leading climate change advocates," he added. He expressed hope that all parties will collaborate in such a spirit for the betterment of the lives of all Maldivians.