Maldivian Foreign Minister meets with Palestinian counterpart

The Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has met with Riyad al-Maliki, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine.

The two met in New York yesterday in a sideline meeting of the joint debate on the “situation in the middle east” at the United Nations General Assembly. 

Minister Shahid and Minister Al-Maliki reflected on the long history of bilateral relations between the two countries, and the warmth and affection shared between the people of the Maldives and Palestine.

Minister Shahid during the meeting also reiterated the unwavering support of the Maldives in advocating for full Palestinian statehood and the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and conveyed a message of solidarity from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the people of Maldives to President Mahmoud Abbas and the people of Palestine.

Minister al-Maliki in the meeting thanked Minister Shahid for the sentiments and stated that the people of Palestine take strength from the people of Maldives in this hard time.

Minister Shahid further re-affirmed that the Maldives position on Palestine will remain unchanged and that it will continue to be a staunch advocate for protecting the human rights and dignity of the Palestinian people in the international arena.

Minister Shahid has been meeting with Foreign Ministers from a host of nations including key partners of the Maldives. Minister Shahid has so far met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusolgu, Kuwaiti Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Jordanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud as well. 

Minister Shahid has also addressed the UN General Assembly where he spoke about the Palestinian and Israeli conflict and condemned the brutal actions by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem.