No pressure from any foreign source – Shahid

29 November 2007
Report: Ayya

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has said that he is not aware of any foreign interference in the internal affairs of the country. He also said that no foreign country or organization would ever consider such a thing.

Speaking in a news conference to brief the media on his visit to Kempala to attend the summit of heads of states of commonwealth countries, Minister Shahid said no special discussions were held regarding Maldives. He further said in principle the commonwealth does not issue declarations supporting a particular government.

“Commonwealth procedures does not allow declarations to be issued in support of a particular regime or a country, in principle commonwealth will not issue statements supporting a particular country” said Minister Shahid in response to a question from a member of the press regarding a statement made Legal Reform Minister Nasheed at a press conference held last Sunday. At that news conference Nasheed has said that commonwealth would issue a statement concerning the state of affairs of Maldives.

Minister Shahid also said that during the summit he shared information regarding the implementation of reform agenda with heads of member countries. The heads of member countries praised the work of the reform process said Minister Shahid.

When asked on the talks spreading across the country that certain countries and top level dignitaries have asked President Gayoom not to stand elections for a seventh term, Shahid replied that even in the most recent summit of heads of states of commonwealth countries or in any other such occasion, no such statement was made.

At a news conference held by the Ex Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed, Ex Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed and Ex Justice Minister Mohamed Jameel , Dr. Hassan Saeed has said that the Commonwealth, European Union and many top level dignitaries has called on President Gayoom not to stand election for another term. However this was rejected by Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef in a press release issued by the President’s office.