Foreign Ministry: Have not received iCom’s decision

Foreign Ministry, on Thursday, has stated despite the Information Commissioner’s Office’s (iCom) order to disclose the countries which sought President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s economic formula to overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in five days, they have yet to receive documents regarding iCom’s decision in the case.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, during an event held in Addu City last January as part of President Solih’s campaign for MDP’s presidential primary, remarked world leaders sought the formula adopted by President Solih to rebuild the Maldivian economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A media outlet, under the Right to Information Act, requested Foreign Ministry to disclose the names of these world leaders. Back then, Foreign Ministry refused to disclose the information. iCom, last Tuesday, ordered the Foreign Ministry to disclose the requested information.

Foreign Ministry, commenting on the matter on Thursday, said despite iCom’s order to disclose the countries which sought President Solih’s economic formula to overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in five days, the Ministry has yet to receive documents regarding iCom’s decision in the case.

Foreign Ministry noted that the request by a media outlet to disclose the information back then had been rejected citing information exchanged through a diplomatic channel is protected through the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). Therewith, the Ministry reasoned that the information cannot be disclosed referencing international diplomatic policies and the Right to Information Act.

The Ministry said their decision was in accordance with the policies set down by the Right to Information Act.

iCom, however, has ordered Foreign Ministry to disclose the information.