Foreign Minister Bourita, Assistant Secretary David Schenker, distinguished Ministers and colleagues, Assalaam Alaikum.
Though geographically far, the Maldives and Morocco shares a traditionally close bond of friendship and understanding that dates back for over eight centuries. I was fortunate to visit the beautiful Kingdom in 2019, in which the traditional bonds of friendship and fraternal connections between our forefathers were revived and fortified.
The cooperation between the Maldives and Morocco is multifaceted. This includes cooperation in the areas of culture and heritage, education, climate change, economic cooperation, counterterrorism and de-radicalization. Both countries have also been collaborating closely at multilateral level, especially at the United Nations, on important international issues including the question of Western Sahara.
The Maldives has always supported the position of Morocco on the Western Sahara and has constantly advocated for a peaceful resolution of the dispute through negotiations. We welcome the recent decision of the United States to recognize the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over the entire region of Western Sahara. We are confident that the Moroccan Initiative of Autonomy Plan remains the most promising path to resolve the dispute peacefully.
I assure you Mr. Minister, that the Maldives will always stand by Morocco in your efforts to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable resolution to this issue in line with the principles and objectives of the UN Charter.
Thank you, Excellencies for this opportunity.