06 September 2012, Male'
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H. E. Ms. Dunya Maumoon has urged all countries in the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to remove Maldives from the agenda of CMAG.
State Minister said at a press conference at the Ministry yesterday that Maldives was included in CMAG's agenda unjustly, and called for it to be removed immediately as the Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI) has now completed its investigation.
Dunya explained that the CoNI's report had answered all questions surrounding the transfer of power on February 7 and added that the report had ruled that the power transfer had been constitutional. Hence there is no longer a need to keep the Maldives in CMAG's agenda and the same would be intimated to the Foreign Minister's of the countries comprised in Group and the heads of countries of the Commonwealth, she explained.
She further expressed confidence that Maldives would be successful in its efforts during the CMAG's teleconference meeting scheduled for September 11.
The State Minister while noting that most countries have welcomed CoNI's report said that the statements released by two countries were a cause for concern for the government.
CMAG had placed Maldives in its agenda following the questions raised by the opposition with regard to the transfer of power on February 7. CMAG had also warned strict measures against the Maldives which had pressured the government to reconstitute the CoNI with representation of Nasheed and international partners.
State Minister also revealed that several prominent members of the government are entertaining the thought of quitting the Commonwealth if CMAG does not remove the Maldives from its agenda but stressed that the government is yet to make a decision over the matter.
During yesterday's press conference State Minister Dunya also highlighted on the 16th Summit of the Non Aligned Movement that was held in Tehran from 30-31 August 2012. The Summit was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs H. E. Dr. Abdul Samad Abdullah.
ENDS.