24th September 2011, Male'; The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives Hon. Ahmed Naseem, met with Hon. Riyad Al-Maliki, the Foreign Minister of Palestine. In the bilateral meeting that took place in the Permanent Mission of Maldives in New York, Foreign Minister Hon. Naseem thanked the Foreign Minister of Palestine for the kind hospitality that was accorded to him when he visited Palestine earlier in the year. He further stated that he was very honoured to be the first Foreign Minister of Maldives to visit Palestine.
Hon. Al-Maliki then briefed Hon. Naseem on the submission for the membership of the United Nations by Palestine. He further discussed the difficulties they have faced as well as highlighting the support they have received from friendly countries.
Foreign Minister Naseem then briefed the Hon. Al-Maliki on his meeting with the Israeli Foreign Minister on the 21st of September 2011 where Minister Naseem had clarified the position of the Maldives to the Foreign Minister of Israel, and reiterated the support of Maldives for an independent state of Palestine.
He also conveyed a message from the President of Maldives, H.E. Mohamed Nasheed to H.E. Mahmood Abbas, the President of Palestine which stated that the "Palestinians can always count on the support of the Maldives" and that the Maldives is willing to do "everything we can for our brothers and sisters in Palestine".
The Foreign Minister of Palestine thanked the Maldives for their continued support. The Deputy Minister, Hawla Ahmed Didi, the Ambassador-designate of the Maldives to Palestine, Dr. Farahanaz Faizal, Deputy Permanent Representative of Maldives to the UN, Thilmeeza Hussain also participated in the meeting.
ENDS.