“It is time for the Maldives to move on” say Alistair Burt

The UK Minister for South Asia, Alistair Burt has said that it is time for the Maldives to move on following the release of the report of the Commission of National Inquiry in August this year.

He said this at his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdul Samad Abdullah today on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

During the meeting, the two ministers agreed that the time was right to ‘move on’ following the findings of the Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI), democracy and explore ways in which political differences in the country could be resolved through dialogue.

The UK Minister stated that the political challenges faced by the Maldives require a local solution and encouraged all parties, including the opposition to participate in the political discourse and engage constructively.

In this regard, Mr Burt said that the UK Government was ready to assist the Maldives and work with the Government in its efforts to implement democratic institutional reforms.

The two Ministers also discussed, on ways to further strengthen the historical ties between the Maldives and the United Kingdom and to increase cooperation on issues of mutual interest at the United Nations and other international fora.

Minister Samad was accompanied by State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dunya Maumoon, Additional Secretary Ali Naseer Mohamed and Counsellor at Permanent Mission of Maldives in United Nations, Amin Javed Faizal.