US Ambassador meets Addu City Council members

US Ambassador to the Maldives Michele Sison has yesterday met the secretariat and members of Addu City Council.

Mayor of Addu City Abdullah Sodig said that Sison visited Addu for the closing ceremony of the US-Maldives joint military exercise Coconut Grove 2012.

Sison said during the meeting that the military exercise in Addu is part of the efforts by the US to strengthen democratic institutions in the Maldives.

Sodig said that he briefed the Ambassador on the concerns of Addu City Council, and the development projects that have been halted since the change of government on 7 February.

“I highlighted that the development projects that have been halted since 7 February cannot be resumed before an early election is held. I requested the US to assist us in this matter,” he said.

Sodig said that Sison replied by asking whether an election had not already been confirmed in the Maldives. She stressed that the US will assist in making this election independent and fair.

Sodig said that he also informed the Ambassador that he is saddened by the unrest in Addu City due to the change of government on 7 February, and that the cases filed to Courts following the unrest were politically motivated.