Today the Maldives has joined the global chorus of voices condemning the violence in the Middle East and especially the State of Palestine, as the United Nations Security Council held an open debate on the subject.
Speaking at the open debate, His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations said that “the United Nations resolutions and subsequent negotiations have made clear that the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 has no place in the modern world, and that the State of Palestine must be recognized”. He further urged that the State of Palestine must be granted full independence with its pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Ambassador Sareer noted that without giving back Palestinians their God-given right to humanity, the cycle of hatred and violence is continuing not only in Palestine but also around the world. As a result, hatred tends to infect young people from every nation, race and creed, a threat facing the Islamic Ummah, he said.
Noting that terrorist organisations like the so-called ‘Islamic State’ are among the greatest threats to the global community, he said the Government of President Yameen has condemned ideologies and activities of these terrorist groups in the strongest terms. The Maldives welcomed initiatives that emphasize global will to jointly address the issue of foreign fighters, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions 2170 and 2178 adopted during the year.
The Maldives statement also expressed concern on the worsening refugee crisis in Iraq and Syria. He said once again a generation will grow up in fear and will learn hatred, “unless we begin to take steps that will address them in a holistic and longsighted manner”.
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