Maldives will use its presence in all international organisations to advocate the cause of Palestine – President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has reassured that the Maldives would continue to use its presence in all international organisations, including the UN Human Rights Council, to advocate the cause of Palestine.

He made the statement in his speech at the state luncheon held at Kurumba Maldives in honour of the visiting President of Palestine, Dr Mahmoud Abbas.

The President said that the Palestinian struggle for peace, justice, and independence has captured the imagination of the Maldivian people for generations. He said that no international issue draws the same level of intensity and interest in the Maldives as the question of Palestine.

“For, the land of Palestine holds a special place in the conscience of Muslims all over the world; it is the cradle of human civilisation; it has been, for several millennia, the source of pride for the great monotheistic faiths of the world. Most of all, the question of Palestine remain in the hearts of Maldivians because of our commitment to justice, equality, and the rule of law. Our solidarity with Palestine and its people will never change. Our support for the establishment of the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital will never diminish,” he said.

President Waheed also assured the visiting Palestinian President that the Maldives will continue to use its presence in all international organisations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, to advocate the cause of Palestine.

He said that the Maldivians firmly believe that the State of Palestine should be granted full membership of the United Nations. He added that Maldives will keep reminding the international community of its obligation to promote and protect the full enjoyment of fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.

President Waheed also said that there is a special level of warmth and closeness between our two countries that is evident in the candour of our exchanges and the ease with whichMaldivians and Palestinians relate to each other.

Furthermore the President said that the visit of President Abbas to our Maldives is yet another milestone to the historic ties that symbolizes the Maldives-Palestine bilateral relations.

“We also cherish the memory of the visit of the late President of Palestine, His Excellency Mr. Yasser Arafat in July 1984. Your Excellency’s visit, no doubt, has certainly paved the way for even closer collaboration in the years ahead,” he said.

In his speech, President Abbas thanked the Maldivian government and people for the strongsupport to the Palestinian struggle for the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He also expressed confidence that his visit to the Maldives would strengthen the close bilateral relations that exist between the two countries. 

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