01 October 2018, New York

The Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations, H.E Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed in his statement at the General Debate of the high-level session of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, called for the the United Nations to assume greater leadership in unifying international community to work together to build resilience.

In his statement, Permanent Representative, H.E Dr. Ali Naseer highlighted the importance of multilateralism and its norms, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). ‘We see the UN as the key in determining our place, and our voice in the global discourse’ he said. He also highlighted the importance of durable partnerships, in the form of capacity building, transfer of technology, and access to finance, to compliment development efforts by SIDS, in order to achieve the goals, as set out in international development agendas and agreements such as the 2030 Agenda, Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the SAMOA Pathway and the Paris Agreement.

The Maldives noted the important role of the UN, as an institution, to bring together ideas, solutions and different voices together, to address challenges of climate change, ocean degradation, poverty, exclusion, and discrimination. 

The Maldives also recognized the importance of building resilient communities for development. The Permanent Representative recognized the Maldives efforts in strengthening resilience and the accelerated pace of democratization and achievements in social and economic development. ‘From the humble beginning, as one of the poorest countries in the world at independence in 1965, to an upper middle-income country today, is a success story by any measure’ he said.

The Maldives also called on the international community to stop the atrocities that are being committed against Muslims in Myanmar, bring peaceful end to the continuing war in Syria and to accord the Palestinian people their legitimate right to self-determination.

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