Foreign Ministry concerned over refusal of legal representatives at meeting with Swire

Foreign Minister Dhunya Maumoon has said that the British Government did not allow legal representatives to be present in her meeting with the Minister the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (CFO), Hugo Swire.

The Foreign Minister issued a statement on Thursday saying that they are concerned about that fact. The Government said that the lawyers taking part in the meeting is very important in that pre-arranged meeting.

“The Government of Maldives maintains that the presence of its legal advisers at the said meeting is vital to give both a full and comprehensive briefing on the current case facing former President Nasheed, as well as on other key reforms that are being undertaken with their assistance.” The statement said.

The Ministry noted that despite repeatedly refusing to meet with the Government’s legal representatives, he met with the former President Nasheed’s wife and his international legal counsel, Mrs Amal Clooney which he “decided to publicize on social media posting a picture of them together in his office accompanied by a welcoming message.”

Swire was criticized in the statement saying that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office is biased in regards to the issues of the Maldives.