President Nasheed says it is sad Maldives could not vote for Palestine

President Mohamed Nasheed has said it is a sad thing that Maldives could not vote for Palestine when it was admitted to UNESCO full membership. The President said so replying to question asked by Miadhu daily Editor Abdul Latheef at a media meeting near official jetty. President Nasheed was leaving to Addu City to see the final preparations being made for SAAARC Summit starting on 10th of this month.

Nasheed said Maldives delegation who participated at the UNESCO meeting in Paris missed the opportunity to cast the vote because of an oversight. They did not check about the vote to the extent they should, what happened is regrettable. It is very sad thing, the President told media. He said he has instructed the Minister of Education Shifa Mohamed to inform UNESCO and other concerned authorities to consider that Maldives wanted to vote, and to consider it as a vote Maldives has given.

The President further said Minister of Education has already sent a letter to this effect. The crucial vote giving Palestine full membership in UNESCO was taken on 31 October. Although Minister of Education and her officials attended the UNESCO meeting, they returned home before the vote was taken. Government sources have given differing reasons for not giving the vote. There was a report which said the Minister has to return home to attend a Majlis Committee. Another reason given was they were not aware of the details of the vote.

There was lot of concern and regret about the vote not being given to Palestine to help in their struggle for independence and statehood while there was huge support for its full membership in UNESCO. Opposition parties including DRP.

Adalath Party and PPM have severely condemned the Government for not voting Palestinian membership in UNESCO even after attending part of the meeting, they have said the reasons given by the Government are not acceptable. They also accuse the Government of cheating the people as a result of the Government's connections with the Zionist state of Israel.

In Monday's vote 173 out of 194 countries voted. While 81 was the required majority, 107 countries voted for Palestine, and 14 countries against, and 52 abstained. Australia, Canada, Czeck Republic, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sweden, United States and Vanuathu.