05 June 2015, Male: “2015 will be a year to reckon with - either as the year the global community started its journey on the path of sustainable development, or the year a tremendous opportunity to effect change was lost”, says Her Excellency Ms Dunya Maumoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, speaking on the occasion of the World Environment Day this year.

The theme “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”, for the year centers on resource efficiency and sustainable consumption in the context of sustainable development and climate change,. The theme brings the focus on human welfare and the hopes and aspirations of 7 billion people through the lens of what is needed to fulfill human destiny, but also the limits to those aspirations. She stressed that the problem is not just that our consumption patterns are not only unsustainable, but that of increasing inequality as well.

Reflecting on the multilateral frameworks being finalized in the areas of climate change, post 2015 development agenda, and financing for development, the Minister said that “it gives us a huge opportunity to ensure that we do not fail humanity, leaving no one behind on our path to sustainable development and keep our planet at the center of our objectives”. 

The Minister said that climate change remains one of the biggest developmental challenges in Maldives. Rising ocean levels, coastal erosion, ocean acidification, extreme weather events and variable precipitation patterns not only threaten their very existence but also grossly affects the livelihoods and economies of small island nations. The Minister reiterated that although it is countries least responsible for climate change that are the most vulnerable to it, Maldives continues to take a proactive approach in building resiliency to the adverse impacts of climate change through pursuing a low carbon development strategy. Minister Dunya further urged all stakeholders to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals identified in the ambitious post 2015 development agenda, in particular targets relating to the management and sustainable use of oceans and seas, climate change, investing in sustainable energy and water.

Minister Dunya stressed that, resources that are critical for human well being, but even for human survival are being threatened due to overexploitation - from food to water to energy. “Human development need not be at the cost of the environment. We have now witnessed that overexploitation of natural resources has not brought prosperity to all humankind. Lets take this opportunity to change the discourse on what constitutes development and the means to implement it. Lets start doing more with less, efficiently, equitably and in consideration of people and the planet”.

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03 June 2015; President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has this morning launched the official logo and website of ‘Visit Maldives Year 2016’ tourism campaign initiated by the Ministry of Tourism. The President launched the logo and website at the inauguration of the 27th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and Pacific (CAP) and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia (CSA) & UNWTO Regional Ministerial Conference on Positioning Tourism in a Wider Socio-economic Context.

In his inaugural address at the conference, the President expressed his confidence for a successful year in tourism for the Maldives through the global campaign, and highlighted the many national and international activities scheduled to be held through the next year, to mark ‘Visit Maldives Year’.

The President reiterated the Government’s plans to transform the Maldives’ economic policies, and redefine the catalytic role of tourism in uplifting the livelihood of the Maldivian youth. He underscored the tourism sector’s contribution to the creation of jobs, which is unparalleled with any other sector in the Maldivian economy.

Continuing on, the President stated that the Government has been executing policies towards the creation of almost 95,000 jobs for the youth, changing the tourism investment landscape, and promoting youth entrepreneurship. He noted that tourism has become an important policy tool dedicated to the change, development and reconstruction of the social and physical environment of the Maldives. In this regard, the President highlighted the Government’s announcement to facilitate sovereign guarantees for bank loans undertaken by the private sector that are under 4% interest cost, as a further boost to the tourism development of the country.

In his speech, President Yameen stated that tourism has taught Maldivians the art of living together in a globalised and fast-evolving world, proving that tourism can coexist with age-old customs, values and traditions of a country. He also pointed out that a number of ancillary businesses throughout the economy gain from tourism, including the retail sector, entertainment arena and transportation industry.

The President further noted that today the Maldives ranked amongst the very best when it came to the development of tourism that promotes and conserves wildlife and pristine ecosystems, as well as precious natural resources.

At the inauguration of the 27th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO CAP and the UNWTO CSA & UNWTO Regional Ministerial Conference held today, the Secretary General of UNWTO, Dr. Taleb Rifai presented the open letter from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) to President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, as part of their efforts in promoting travel and tourism in the global arena.

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03 June 2015; Please find below a statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dunya Maumoon.

“I am concerned about the reaction by some foreign Governments regarding some judicial trials in the Maldives, including the trial of the leader of the Islamic religious party of the Maldives. Rest assured the Government will not intervene in the judicial process of the country.

Justice will be served as per our laws and the Constitution of the Maldives. Criminal activities and incitement to violence will not be condoned”.

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03 June 2015; Please find below a statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dunya Maumoon.

“I am concerned about the reaction by some foreign Governments regarding some judicial trials in the Maldives, including the trial of the leader of the Islamic religious party of the Maldives. Rest assured the Government will not intervene in the judicial process of the country.

Justice will be served as per our laws and the Constitution of the Maldives. Criminal activities and incitement to violence will not be condoned”.

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03 June 2015; Please find below a statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dunya Maumoon.

01 June 2015, Male’; Mr. Ahmed Anoosh has been appointed as the Media Coordinator. The appointment was made by the President’s Office today.

Prior to his appointment as the Media Coordinator, Mr. Ahmed Anoosh has been working at local media stations - DhiFM Plus TV and DhiFM Radio. Some of the notable programmes presented by Anoosh includes “one-to-one” which has featured presidents and key institutional heads, and “The VIP with Ahmed Anoosh” presented in English.

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01 June 2015, Male'; The Foreign Secretary, His Excellency Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed has departed last night on an official visit to Belgium and France. During the visit the Foreign Secretary is scheduled to meet with a number of high level EU officials and discuss strengthening of the close bilateral cooperation between the Maldives and EU. During his visit to France, he is scheduled to meet with senior officials of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development and discuss strengthening of the close ties between the Maldives and France.

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29 May 2015, Male’: Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dunya Maumoon has returned to Maldives after concluding her visit to Kuwait, to attend the 42^nd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

28 May 2015, Kuwait; Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dunya Maumoon has highlighted the important values of moderation and tolerance in Islam and called on to regain its glorious character and status around the world by joining “hands to rebuild the[se] fallen bridges of tolerance and moderation”.

The Minister made the remark in her address to the 42nd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC, currently underway in Kuwait this morning. In her address the Minister underscored the true values of Islam. “Islam is not only a religion, but a civilization. It once was the standard bearer, not only in science and innovation, but also in maintaining peace and promoting tolerance. Indeed, tolerance was once the soft power of the Islamic Ummah. Radicalism has no place in Islam. Nonetheless, in every corner of our Ummah, faces of radicalism stare back at us. It is most distressing to the Maldives that external actors provide all forms of support to such radical elements particularly, in emerging democracies”.

“To enjoy the glory of the true values of Islam, Muslims should stand united. There is no power without unity”, said Minister Dunya.

Referring to ongoing conflicts and some key issues in the Islamic world and underscoring the Maldives stand on those, the Minister stated, “the Maldives continues to be concerned over the situation in Palestine. President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and the Government of Maldives condemn Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestine. The Maldives calls on countries around the world, to support the State of Palestine and to recognize its sovereignty over its territories”. Similarly, she said, “Peace has to win over war in Syria, Libya, and Yemen. [And] compassion has to be shown to the large number of Rohingya Muslims stranded in the open seas in South East Asia.”

In concluding her address the Minister highlighted the Islamic character of the Maldives and the determination of the Government to continue its efforts to consolidate democracy. “The Maldives has been a Muslim country for the last 800 years. The Agenda for Reform introduced by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has transformed the country into a vibrant multi-party democracy without compromising our Islamic values and heritage. The Government of President Yameen is determined to see through the reform process. Islamic civilization brought revolutionary changes to the systems of governance. It recognized the dignity of the human”.

On this note she also emphasized on the OIC’s important global role in alleviating the image of the Islamic Ummah and said, “the OIC is ideally placed to reposition the Islamic Ummah in the global platform as the new-age House of Wisdom”. 

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بســم اللّـه الرّحمـن الرّحيــم

Your HIghness, Your Excellency

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies

AssalamAlaikum Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuh,

27 May 2015, Kuwait; Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dunya Maumoon has underscored the importance of combatting terrorism and forging a joint effort to prevent terrorists from attempting to “redraw the map of the world”.

Speaking at the Special Session of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC on Combatting Terrorism this afternoon in Kuwait, the Minister stated that, “over the past year, we have seen a barbaric terrorist group to emerge in Syria and Iraq that pushed the borders of cruelty and mayhem. This terrorist group is using the veil of Islam, as a pretext for inflicting terror, and committing gross heinous violations of human rights”.

The Minister noted that the Islamic Ummah continues to be plagued with an endless cycle of carnage and turmoil. “It would not be wise to hope that an external power will come to our rescue. The responsibility lies on us, the Islamic world, to craft a solution; a solution that recognizes human dignity, a solution that addresses the root causes of conflict, and a solution, that promotes the real causes of peace”, said Minister Dunya.

In her remarks the Minister also condemned the attacks on Muslims, particularly in the West, and the discriminations against people just because they are Muslims. Islam, she said is “increasingly being associated with terror and extremism. Islamophobia, as a spectrum of negative expressions continues to expand rapidly”.

As a way forward, Minister Dunya put to the Council to streamline counter-radicalisation efforts and to ensure a lasting victory against violent extremism. “We need to allow our societies to empower their minds and open their hearts to respect the other. Then only could we cultivate a culture of respect that will enable the forging of a joint vision on tolerance and reject terrorism”.

“Countering terrorism is a battle that we can win only if we fight it with our minds”, said the Foreign Minister in conclusion.

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27 May 2015, Kuwait; The Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC began its 42nd Session in Kuwait today. The session themed on “Common Vision for Promotion of Tolerance and Denunciation of Terrorism” was officiated by the Emir of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah in the ceremony held at Bayan Palace this morning. 

During the Session the Foreign Ministers are scheduled to deliberate on an effective strategy for combating terrorism, extremism and Islamaphobia and other key issues facing the Islamic world. The Secretary General of the OIC will brief the Council of Foreign Ministers on the Organisation’s work and efforts since the last meeting of the Council in Jeddah last year. At the end of the meeting the Ministers will agree on the Kuwait Declaration and take important decisions on key issues.

Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dunya Maumoon arrived in Kuwait last night as head of the Maldives Delegation. She is accompanied by the Minister of Islamic Affairs H E Mr. Ahmed Ziyad, Additional Secretary Ms. Aishath Liusha Zahir and First Secretary of the Maldives Embassy in Riyadh Mr. Abdul Waris Saeed.

The meeting will conclude tomorrow.

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Recall of Maldives High Commissioner to Malaysia

26 May 2015, Male’: The Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Ms. Dunya Maumoon has departed for Kuwait to attend the 42nd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) scheduled to take place in Kuwait from 27-28 May 2015.

The Maldives delegation to the Session is headed by Minister Dunya and is accompanied by Islamic Minister H.E. Dr. Ahmed Ziyad, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ms. Aishath Liusha Zahir and First Secretary of the Embassy of the Maldives in Saudi Arabia Mr. Abdul Waris Saeed. Minister  Dunya is set to deliver a statement at the Council of Foreign Ministers.

The theme of this years session is “A common vision to promote tolerance and denouncing terrorism”.  The  42nd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers will also review inter alia the cause of Palestine and the Arab occupied territories, muslim minorities and communities, conflict issues in the muslim world, combating of international terrorism, extremism  and Islamophobia.

Maldives became a member of the OIC on 26 July 1976. Since joining the OIC in 1976, Maldives has participated in all regular Summits and the Foreign Ministers Meetings

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25 May 2015; The new British High Commissioner accredited to the Maldives, ‎His ‎Excellency Mr. James Dauris presented his letter of credence ‎to ‎President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom this morning.‎

At the ceremony held at the President’s Office to present ‎‎credentials, President Yameen congratulated High Commissioner Dauris on ‎the ‎commencement of his term.

Following the ceremony, the President and ‎the ‎‎High Commissioner discussed ways to strengthening existing bilateral ‎ties between ‎the Maldives and Britain, and explored avenues for further ‎cooperation ‎between the two countries. ‎

The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. ‎Dunya ‎Maumoon, and Minister at the President’s Office, Hon. Mohamed ‎Hussain ‎Share.

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25 May 2015, Male': The High Commissioner of the United Kingdom accredited to the Maldives H E Mr James Darius called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Ms Dunya Maumoon today.

Maldives-intervention-and-statement-at-Maldives-UPR-Review-May-2015.pdf

24 May 2015; The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Maldives, His Excellency Mr. Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Al-Jammaz has paid a farewell call on Her Excellency Ms. Dunya Maumoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

24 May 2015; Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Maldives, H E Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Al Jammaz, has paid his farewell call on President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

29 April 2015; Following the earthquake that struck Nepal on 25 April 2015, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been closely monitoring the status of Maldivians and made arrangements to evacuate those who wished to leave Nepal at the earliest opportunity.