Rao

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said he met with the Chairman of GMR, Mr G. M. Rao as part of his visit to India, during which Mr Rao said that it is his wish to solve the problems associated with GMR as peacefully as possible.

Gayoom said today while speaking to reporters upon arrival at the airport from his visit to India, that Mr Rao visited him while he was at the hospital, and shared his views on resolving the GMR issue.

“Mr Rao came to the hospital we were at. This meeting wasn’t planned. The first subject he talked about was their Company. He said that GMR is a big company in India which is active in various business areas. He talked about the accomplishments of GMR. He then said that they currently operate the airport of Maldives, and that they want to settle the problem as peacefully as possible. I told him, we have no problem with India, and that Maldivians are grateful for all the ways in which India assists Maldives,” he said.

Gayoom said that he informed Mr Rao that the agreement with GMR contains several areas of concern, and that the agreement was not made in a transparent manner.

Gayoom said that he also met with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and expressed his gratitude on behalf of Maldivian citizens for India’s assistance.

“The Indian Prime Minister praised Maldives, and said that India wants what’s best for Maldives, and assured that they will continue to assist us,” he said.

When asked by Sun Online whether he will contest in the primary election of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Gayoom said that since the primary will not take place until next year, he had not given it any thought. He confirmed that a primary will be held to elect PPM’s presidential candidate.