India has impressed upon the Maldivian government the need to push for reconciliation in the island nation even as the latter updated New Delhi on the commission of inquiry that has been appointed by the government of Maldives to look into the circumstances surrounding the transfer of power in February this year.
These and other issues were discussed when visiting foreign minister of Maldives Abdul Samad Abdulla held delegation-level talks with the Indian side led by external affairs minister S.M. Krishna here on Tuesday.
It was on February 7 that the then President of the Maldives Mohammed Nasheed was ousted. The first democratically-elected head of government in the archipelago, Mr Nasheed had claimed that he was forcibly ousted though New Delhi thinks otherwise. Mr Krishna is said to have emphasised to the Maldivians that India has an abiding interest in ensuring peace and stability in Maldives and has been happy to use its good offices to facilitate forward movement on the political impasse in the island nation. He emphasised that while India is happy to assist in every possible way, it expects all parties, including those supporting the government to contribute to India’s sincere efforts to bringing about peace and stability in Maldives.
Dr Abdulla on his part said that all parties in Maldives welcomed India’s facilitation. He also thanked India for the release of $20 million of the $100 million standby credit facility to Maldives and rolling over the $50 million in treasury bonds with the State Bank of India by one year. The Maldivian foreign minister also assured that India’s commercial interests in the island nation was safe when Mr Krishna raised the issue and underlined the need to maintain an investor-friendly climate to continue attracting quality investments. Dr Abdulla “assured that all existing agreements will be honoured”.