Moderator of All Party Talks Mujtaba resigns

Ahmed Mujtaba has resigned from his role as the Moderator of All Party Talks, the discussions between political parties since the change of government on 7 February 2012.

A press statement released to announce his resignation says that he made the decision to resign following the decision by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the party which is not part of the coalition government, to withdraw from the discussions; and because the remaining parties can hold discussions through the Parliament.

Mujtaba was appointed Moderator of All Party Talks on 18 February 2012.

The second meeting of the Leaders’ Dialogue has been scheduled from 16:00 to 18:00 today.

MDP decided at an emergency meeting of its National Steering Committee last night, that it will temporarily withdraw from the Leaders’ Dialogue.

MDP has not indicated a reason for this decision.

Mujtaba expressed hope in his press statement that all political groups would prioritise the interests of the nation, and work towards finding solutions to current political challenges faced by the country.

All Party Talks was initiated by the government at the end of February 2012. The name of these discussions was changed to Leaders’ Dialogue following the release of the report by the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI), at the end of last month.

The first meeting of the Leaders’ Dialogue was held last Sunday, at which MDP was represented by its Chairperson, Reeko Moosa Manik, who proposed that MDP be allowed to join the government. However this request was not accommodated by the government.