26 April 2013, London, UK; TheMinister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla yesterday met with Mr Alistair Burt MP, Parliamentary Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
At the meeting Minister Samad briefed Minister Burt on the progress the Government of Maldives had made in strengthening democratic institutions in the country. Dr Samad expressed his sincere gratitude to Minister Burt and the UK Government for their continued engagement and assistance with Institution building in the Maldives.
Minister Samad also spoke of the problems Maldivian students accepted to study in the UK face in obtaining visas, especially the issue of travelling to Colombo to obtain UK student visa.
"The Government hopes a permanent solution to this problem can be sought as it is hindering the nation's youth from obtaining the exceptional quality of higher education offered by UK universities. Without a permanent solution, Maldivian students will increasingly be forced to seek alternative sources of higher education. This regrettable outcome is in neither of our countries' interests"
Minister Burt expressed his hope that the UK Government would find a solution to this problem and reaffirmed the British Governments commitment to the Maldivian people. Mr Burt stated that the UK had always and will continue to be a close development partner of the Maldives both bilaterally and through the Commonwealth.
During the meeting Dr Samad also briefed Minister Burt on the ongoing preparations for the upcoming Presidential elections. Minister Samad concluded the meeting by expressing the Maldivian Governments commitment to strengthening democracy in the country noting that this could only be done with the continued constructive engagement and support of the international community.
ENDS