Message from His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of UN Day
“Today, as we celebrate the seventy-sixth anniversary of the United Nations, we reaffirm our trust in multilateralism and diplomacy, while celebrating the achievements of the Maldives in the UN.
Guided by the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, we move forward, together with all Member States, by demonstrating leadership and commitment to upholding the spirit of multilateralism, as it is key to addressing global challenges, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, terrorism and extremism, among others.
With the hope of a better future for all, the Maldives’ commitment to the UN remains steadfast, and we will continue to promote human rights, democracy, justice and equality for all nations alike, big or small, rich or poor. The deepening of inequalities among vulnerable groups within the society as a result of the devastating impacts of COVID-19 is undeniable.
The Maldives joined the United Nations in 1965, one of the first small states to join the organization, and a least developed country at the time. Despite its size, the Maldives has been an active member of the UN since then and the trust placed by the international community in the Maldives is evident by the election of the Maldives’ candidate to the seventy sixth session of the UN General Assembly. As the candidate of the Maldives, it is a great honour and privilege for me to serve as the current President of the UN General Assembly. I assure all Member States that this is a presidency of hope for people, the planet and prosperity, where no one is left behind. Together we can achieve the sustainable development goals and its Agenda 2030 and together we shall reach the target set forth in the Paris Agreement, in global solidarity and in the spirit of multilateralism, these challenges could be overcome to provide a better future for generation to come.”