Fifty years ago, today, the Maldives joined the United Nations. On this joyous occasion, I wish to extend warm congratulations to the people of the Maldives.
It was a big decision for the world body to decide on 21 September 1965 to admit the Maldives as its smallest member. But for the Maldives, becoming a member of the United Nations was the ultimate expression of the international community’s recognition of the Maldives as a nation-State.
For the last fifty years, the United Nations has been a willing, and an able, partner for development of the Maldives. Indeed, a UN agency started working in the Maldives even before the country gained independence; a collaboration that continues to this day. Together with the UN, the Maldives has been able to attain an unprecedented level of progress on sectors such as health and education.
Maldivian people are proud of our contribution to the United Nations, to the efforts to give meaning to We the peoples of the United Nations, the very first words of the UN Charter. During the last fifty years, we stood for the voiceless.We championed the cause of Palestine. We highlighted the dangers of climate change. We helped to identify the undeniable link between the full enjoyment of human rights and environmental degradation. We introduced the concept of security of small states at the UN, and we continue to be the leading voice on that theme. And we call on the world leaders for actions on these issues to realize our common destiny.
Fifty years on, the Maldives remains committed to work with other countries that show commitment to the values and principles enshrined in the Charter, to achieve the noble objectives of the world body. On this momentous occasion, we renew our commitment to work towards world peace, and in making the international system more favorable for the needs of small states.
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