President Solih: Current administration restored international community’s confidence in Maldives

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Monday, underscoring Maldives’ ties with foreign nations and international organizations were severed and in disarray when the current administration took office, said the current administration has undertaken meticulous efforts to regain the international community's trust and confidence in the Maldives. 

He made the remark while speaking at a ceremony held at the President's Office this morning to confer the most distinguished Foreign Service medal to two long-serving individuals.

In his speech, President Solih underscored that ties with international organizations were in disarray when the present administration took office while diplomatic relations had been severed between various Islamic countries.

As a result, he said the Maldives had been hindered and isolated in the international arena.

Upon assuming office, the President said the administration initiated meticulous efforts to regain the international community's trust and confidence in the Maldives. 

In this trajectory, he expressed his Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid for his efforts as the Minister of Foreign Affairs to re-establish relations and restore confidence in the Maldives in the international community.

During his speech, President Solih also highlighted the administration's transformations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Ministry being removed from the civil service mandate under a special law, with the aim to strengthen the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and support the President and the administration in sustaining the current government's foreign policy most efficiently.

He added that his administration’s foreign policy, over the past five years, focused on protecting and upholding the Maldives’ peace as the top priority. 

President Solih also emphasized the foreign service officers’ tireless work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Concluding his speech, President Solih expressed hope that the Maldives' foreign service sector would continue to flourish and thrive in the global community.

At Monday’s ceremony, the most distinguished Foreign Service medal was awarded to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Khaleel, and the Foreign Secretary, Ahmed Latheef.

President Solih decided to confer the Most Distinguished Foreign Service Medal on Khaleel and Latheef in recognition of their efforts to uphold the nation's highest interests, strengthen ties between the Maldives and other countries and international organizations, and acknowledge their role in the assistance and cooperation received by various associations and organizations in the Maldives, as well as the foreign service-related assistance they gave to the citizens of the Maldives, and the work they do to develop the foreign service in the country further.