Report: Uken
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has announced that the Maldives is going to open a resident diplomatic mission in Singapore shortly. He made the statement in his speech at the State Banquet hosted at Kurumba Maldives in honor of the visiting President of Singapore, Mr. S. R. Nathan. In his speech, the President expressed his confidence that the mission in Singapore would serve to bring the two countries, governments and peoples even closer together.
Highlighting that the Maldives and Singapore have enjoyed very close ties of friendship for many years, President noted that the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Ghaazee School in Hulhumale’ tomorrow would be a special date in Maldives-Singapore bilateral relations. He said that Ghaazee School would be a lasting reminder of the close friendship between the two countries. Further, the President thanked President Nathan, and the government and people of Singapore, for gifting Ghaazee School to the Maldives. He also thanked the Singapore Red Cross for their assistance towards the construction of the school and other post-tsunami reconstruction projects in the country.
In his speech, the President emphasized that it was an added pleasure that Ghaazee School was on the island of Hulhumale’. He said that the objective of the Government of Maldives was to make Hulhumale’ into a modern and vibrant city, with all essential facilities and services for the residents. He went on to note that Ghaazee School was, therefore, a major step towards the realization of this dream.
President Gayoom noted that the Maldives and Singapore had been friends and allies since the two countries gained independence in 1965.
He added that, since the establishment of diplomatic relations over 31 years ago, ties between the two countries had grown steadily ever since.
He noted that the Maldives and Singapore shared similar views on many important international issues, including the reform of the UN Security Council, matters related to the security of small states, international terrorism and the protection and preservation of the environment. “We also share membership of many important international organizations, broadening our realm of cooperation and the basis of our common principles”, the President highlighted. On this note, he noted that the two countries attained membership of the UN on the same date, in September 1965. He added that the Maldives and Singapore were both members of the Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Alliance of Small Island States.
Noting that the Maldives was among the most environmentally threatened countries on the planet, the President announced that, this November, the Government of Maldives would be hosting an international conference, entitled “The Human Dimension of Global Climate Change”, to prepare for the Bali Summit in December. “Recognizing environmental security as a fundamental human right will be the theme of the Male’ conference”, President elaborated. He also said that the Maldives deeply appreciated Singapore’s continued support to the Maldives’ call for urgent global action to address climate change and sea-level rise.
President said that Singapore was one of the most important development partners for the Maldives, and that Singapore’s contribution to national progress in the Maldives had taken many forms. He noted that co-operation between the two countries had strengthened in numerous areas, including aviation and seafaring, defense and policing, higher education, employment, housing, health, justice, economic development and trade. He also spoke on the growing interest of Singaporean investors in the Maldives, and thanked President Nathan for bringing a high-level business delegation on this State Visit.
“The heights of development that Singapore has attained, through sound planning and hard work, in spite of the challenges faced as a small island state with few natural resources, are nothing short of remarkable”, the President said. He noted that the number of Maldivian visitors to Singapore had been increasing steadily over the years.
President thanked the Singaporean President, and the government and people of Singapore, for the generous and prompt assistance extended to the Maldives in the aftermath of the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. He noted that Ghaazee School was a major component of Singapore’s aid package.VELIDHOO NEWS SERVICE
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