Foreign relations of the Maldives
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Maldives follows a non-aligned policy and has expressed its commitment to maintaining friendly relations with all countries.
The Maldives has lately become a very strong advocate of human rights, as one of the earliest supporters of the Human Rights Council. For the past two years running, the Maldives was the only South Asian country to have voted against North Korea on human rights issues. In 2006, the Maldives acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, together with its optional protocol, as well as the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In 2005, the Maldives became one of the promoters of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture after having earlier acceded to the Convention against Torture. The Maldives is party to the Child Rights Convention, the Convention on the elimination of discrimination against women and its optional protocol. In April 2006, the Maldives issued a standing invitation to all special procedures mandates of the UN human rights machinery to visit to the Maldives.
The Maldives has a limited number of diplomatic missions. Denmark, Norway, the UK, Germany, Russian Federation, Italy, France, Netherlands, Turkey, and Sweden have consular agencies in Malé under the supervision of their embassies in Sri Lanka and India. Many countries have nonresident ambassadors accredited to the Maldives, most of them based in Sri Lanka or India.
International organizations
As founder member in 1985 of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, SAARC, which brings together Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the country plays a very active role in SAARC. The Maldives has taken the lead in calling for a South Asian Free Trade Agreement, the formulation of a Social Charter, the initiation of informal political consultations in SAARC forums, the lobbying for greater action on environmental issues, the proposal of numerous human rights measures such as the regional convention on child rights and for setting up a SAARC Human Rights Resource Centre. The Maldives is also an advocate of greater international profile for SAARC such as through formulating common positions at the UN.
The Maldives also maintains close cultural relations with Islamic countries, and is a member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). However, the Maldives has often distanced itself from positions taken by the OIC on matters such as the Kashmir dispute, which it regards as a bilateral issue to be settled peacefully between India and Pakistan. It has also not supported the OIC position on issues such as that of Cyprus, subscribing to the stance taken by the UN.
In 1982, the Maldives joined the Commonwealth of Nations, first as special member and in 1985 became full member.
At the UN, the Maldives has highlighted the vulnerability of small states to various threats including terrorism, activities of mercenaries and organised crime. It is also a strong advocate of counter-terrorism and is party to all the main UN conventions against terrorism. Development co-operation is a major priority of the Maldives and it has been campaigning at the UN for a more structured means of graduation from the list of least developed countries targeted for preferential assistance. The main donors to the Maldives are Japan, India, and Australia.
The UNDP has a representative resident in Malé, as do UNICEF and WHO.
Bilateral relations
People's Republic of China
China and Maldives established diplomatic relations on October 14, 1972. However, Sino-Maldivian economic cooperation and trade volume are insignificant, with total trade in 2002 of only US$3 million. China's main exports to Maldives are rice and consumer goods.[1] In 2001, Maldives and China signed a deal allowing China to establish a naval base in Marao.[2][3]
India
Bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Maldives have been friendly and close in strategic, economic and military cooperation.[4][5] India contributed to maintaining security on the island nation and has forged an alliance with respect to its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean.[5][6]
India and Maldives officially and amicably decided their maritime boundary in 1976,[5] although a minor diplomatic incident occurred in 1982 when the brother of the President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom declared that the neighbouring Minicoy Island that belonged to India were a part of Maldives; Maldivies quickly and officially denied that it was laying claim to the island.[5] India and Maldives signed a comprehensive trade agreement in 1981.[7] Both nations are founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the South Asian Economic Union and signatories to the South Asia Free Trade Agreement. Indian and Maldivian leaders have maintained high-level contacts and consultations on regional issues.[4]
Israel
While strongly supportive of the Palestinian cause, the Maldives had not, however, supported earlier calls for the expulsion of Israel from the UN, upholding its commitment to maintaining the universality of the UN. In 2005, the Maldives co-sponsored the resolution tabled by the USA on holocaust remembrance, and in 2007 it also co-sponsored the US-led resolution on condemning holocaust denial. In response to the Oslo peace process, the Maldives relaxed private sector restrictions on ties with Israel.
Kosovo
The Maldives recognised Kosovo on 19 February 2009.[8] On the 16 April 2009, Kosovo and the Maldives established diplomatic relations with one another.[9]
On 7 March, the Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed asked police to investigate the allegations of a US$2 million bribe given to Maldivian government officials to recognise Kosovo as an independent state.[10] On 17 March, People’s Majlis National Security Committee launched probe in to Islamic Democratic Party's allegations regarding the bribery.[11] Balkan Insight reported that Kosovo businessman, Behgjet Pacolli, who also heads the New Kosovo Alliance party, has denied any involvement in the bribery case and stated that he only lobbied for the recognition of Kosovo.[12] Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed was cross-examined by the parliamentary committee on 28 March.[13] The police investigation was closed on 6 May 2009, concluding that there was no evidence of corruption and the diplomatic process was conducted according to international standards; the NSC investigation was suspended.[14]
Mauritius
Both the Maldives and Mauritius were former British Indian Ocean possessions, and both now have similar tourist-oriented economies.[15] Relations between the two islands are friendly, and there is some economic cooperation.[16] The Maldives has rejected offers by Mauritius to open negotiations on the demarcation of the maritime boundary between the Chagos Archipelago, which forms part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, claimed by Mauritius.[citation needed]
Pakistan
Pakistan supports the Maldivian poistion over the territorial dispute over the southern Indian colony islands of the Minicoy Island of Lakshadweep of whom the population are Muslim by faith. [citation needed] In November 2004, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited the Maldives and met with President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Aziz offered to extend credit facility, scholarships, collaboration in scientific and technological fields and training of civil servants, defence and security personnel to Maldives. [17] In October 2005, Pakistan-Maldives Joint Economic Commission commenced. [18]
Sri Lanka
Official and economic relations between the neighboring Indian Ocean countries of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, have been positive since the Maldives became independent in 1965. The Maldives first established a mission in Sri Lanka in July 1965, and today has a high commission in Colombo.[19] Sri Lanka has a high commission in Malé.[20] Both countries were founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in December 1985.[21]
United Kingdom
The Maldives became a British Protectorate in the 19th century and the Maldivian monarchs were granted a good measure of self-governance. The Maldives gained total independence in 1965.[22][23] The maritime border with the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) remains undemarcated, with negotiations with the UK being broken off by the Maldives in the late 1990s.[citation needed]
United States
The United States has friendly relations with the Republic of Maldives. The U.S. Ambassador and some Embassy staff in Sri Lanka are accredited to the Maldives and make periodic visits. The United States supports Maldivian independence and territorial integrity, and publicly endorsed India's timely intervention on behalf of the Maldivian Government during the November 1988 coup attempt. U.S. Naval vessels have regularly called at Male' in recent years. The Maldives extended strong support to U.S. efforts to combat terrorism and terrorist financing in 2001-2002.
See Also
References
- ^ "China and Maldives". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- ^ "Sri Lanka and Maldives fall victims to regional and international hegemonic powers". The Island (The Midweek Review ). February 27, 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- ^ "China: Base strategy - China acquires a base in Maldives against India with some help from Pakistan". Dhivehi Observer. 8 May 2005. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- ^ a b "Maldives - India relations". Library of Congress Country Studies. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- ^ a b c d "Maldives, Sri Lanka and the "India Factor"". Himal South Asia Magazine. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- ^ Devin T. Hagerty (2005). South Asia in World Politics. Rowman and Littlefield. pp. 102–103. ISBN 0742525872.
- ^ "Action plan to strengthen bilateral ties with Maldives". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- ^ "Maldives extends full diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Kosovo". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Maldives. 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- ^ "Kosova dhe Maldivet vendosin marrëdhënie diplomatike" (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
- ^ President orders bribery investigation
- ^ Parliament launches bribery investigation
- ^ Majlis Committee launches probe in to IDP allegations on Kosovo
- ^ Parliament cross-examines foreign minister
- ^ "No evidence of bribery in Kosovo investigation". Minivan News. 2009-05-06. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ^ "STR Global performance data for Mauritius and Maldives". Hospitality.net. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ "The President Inaugurates the Male' branch of the Mauritius Commercial Bank". Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, Maldives. 11-05-2008. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
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- ^ http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9726866_ITM
- ^ "High Commission of Maldives". High Commission of Maldives in Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- ^ "Embassies of Sri Lanka". SAARC Tourism. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- ^ "South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation". SAARC. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- ^ "SOUTH ASIA :: MALDIVES". CIA: Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2009-07-3.
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