Two Foreign Ministers hold discussions

Discussions have been held over the phone between Minister of External Affairs of India Salman Khurshid and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives Dr Abdul Samad Abdullah.

Foreign Minister Dr Samad said at a press conference held at Foreign Ministry this evening that the relations between India and Maldives are close and historic and that India does not interfere with the internal issues of the Maldives.

He said that India expressing its views on the situation in the Maldives does not mean that it interferes with the internal issues of the Maldives.

“Compared to us, India is a large democracy. They can express their wish. That does not mean a particular person is setting prior requirements. That can’t even be done, can it? We may be small, but we are an independent country. One of the five major principles of India’s founding father Jawaharlal Nehru was that internal issues of independent countries should not be interfered with,” he said.

He said that Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid rang and spoke with him on the phone today regarding former President Mohamed Nasheed’s situation.

Dr Samad said that Khurshid said that Nasheed remained inside the High Commission but had not been assured protection in any way, and that Khurshid had been informed that Nasheed entered the Indian High Commission following a security issue. He said that he assured Khurshid that Nasheed faces no such problem.

Dr Samad further referred to Khurshid and said that Nasheed remains in the Indian High Commission on account of the respect due to him by India as he has served as President of Maldives, and that India assured that this would not affect the relations between the Maldives and India.

He said that the arrest warrant against Nasheed issued by Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court has expired, which means that Nasheed no longer has any reason to remain in the High Commission. He said that Nasheed cannot remain in the High Commission forever.

Nasheed went into the High Commission to avoid attending court for the trial against him regarding the unconstitutional arrest, while he was president and commander-in-chief, of Chief Judge of Criminal Court Abdullah Mohamed.