President Waheed congratulates Palestinian President 

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has congratulated President Dr Mahmoud Abbas, following the United Nations General Assembly’s decision to grant Non-Member Observer State status to Palestine.

 

During a telephone conversation with President Abbas, President Waheed extended his sincere felicitations and best wishes to the President, the government and the people of Palestine, on behalf of the government and the people of the Maldives, and his own behalf. President Waheed said that Palestine too has the right to complete independence and sovereignty as any other country does.

 

The Palestinian President expressed his appreciation for the telephone call, and thanked President Waheed, and the government and people of Maldives for the full support given to Palestine in winning the vote.

 

Following are the Remarks By His Excellency Dr Mohamed Waheed, President of the Republic of Maldives at the State Luncheon held in honour of His Excellency Dr Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine on 18 April 2012,

 

While addressing UN General Assembly thi year  President Dr. Mohamed Waheed has quoted as following:

 

 

Mr President,

My delegation and I express the wishes of the Maldivian people to see the day that the Palestinian people will join the United Nations as a full member.

 

The Maldives strongly calls on all Member States to support the true aspirations of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination in a Palestinian State.

 

Following is the Speech given by the President Dr. Mohamed Waheed during the official banquet , hosted in Honour of Palestinian President in the Maldives on 19th April 2012

 

Your Excellency Dr Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine; Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Former President of Maldives; Hon Abdulla Shahid Speaker of the Parliament; Hon Ahmed Faiz Hussain Chief Justice; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Assalaam Alaykum Warahmathullahi Wabarakaathuh,

 

On behalf of the Government and the people of the Maldives, I am very pleased to extend to Your Excellency, our warmest welcome to the Maldives. It is a special privilege and honour for us to host Your Excellency on your first State Visit to the Maldives. Your visit reaffirms the close bonds of friendship that exist between our two countries.

Mr President,

 

The Palestinian struggle for peace, justice, and independence has captured the imagination of the Maldivian people for generations. 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.

I would therefore like to reassure Your Excellency 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. We firmly believe that the State of Palestine should be granted full membership of the United Nations. We will keep reminding the international community of its obligation to promote and protect the full enjoyment of fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.

Mr President,

 

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 which we relate to each other. And your visit to our country 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, H.E. 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.

Mr President,

 

I wish you good health and happiness. May our brothers and sisters in Palestine enjoy peace and prosperity.

Thank you and Wassalaam Alikum Warahmathullahi Wabarakaathuh