Today we mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Maldives’ membership at the United Nations. It is fifty years of our commitment to peace and security, commitment to the values and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and fifty years of partnership for national progress. On this joyous occasion, I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and the people of Maldives.
The decision to seek membership of the United Nations, in less than two months after the country gained national independence was, and still remains, as the most important foreign policy decision that the Maldives has taken. With that decision, Maldivian people pledged to work towards making the world a better place, where every individual is free and able to pursue his or her dreams.
Over the past 50 years, the Maldives has introduced several important initiatives at the United Nations, the security of small states, human rights and environment, and of course climate change, which has now become the most crucial issue facing humanity. The Maldives has also been a leading voice on the issue of human rights. As a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, we have been a strong advocate for promoting the rule of law and creating the values of human rights. We achieved these accomplishments without compromising the core national values: the country’s Islamic principles and our cultural traditions.
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