President H.E. Dr Mohamed Muizzu returned to Malé today after concluding his visit to Antigua and Barbuda to attend the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4).
 
The President, who also co-chaired the conference, called on the international community to honour its past commitments and meet SIDS's tailored financing needs. 
 
President Dr Muizzu additionally condemned the acts of violence and aggression by Israel and called on the leaders of SIDS for collective solidarity with the people of Palestine.
 
In addition to participating in various conference discussions, the President engaged in numerous sideline events and held high-level bilateral and multilateral meetings. During the conference, he played a pivotal role in advocating for SIDS and proposed numerous solutions to identify and resolve the unique challenges and SIDS-related issues.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu appointed Ms. Geela Ali and eight other Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Permanent Representatives to some foreign countries and international organisations.

The appointees are as follows:

1. Mohamed Hussain Shareef as Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

2. Iruthisham Adam as High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives to the United Kingdom

3. Dr Fazeel Najeeb as Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to China

4. Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed as Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations (PMNY)

5. Geela Ali as Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the Kingdom of Belgium and to the European Union

6. Dr Mariyam Shabeena Ahmed as High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives to Malaysia

7. Masood Imad as High Commissioner of The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

8. Dr Salma Rasheed as Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva

9. Mohamed Luveiz as High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives to the Republic of Singapore

The President presented the letter of appointment to them at a ceremony held at the President's Office this morning.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moosa Zameer, met with the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, today.

During the meeting, Minister Zameer reflected on the long-standing bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Maldives and the UAE and expressed gratitude for the closeness accorded to the Maldives by the Government of the UAE. 

Minister Zameer highlighted the generous assistance and consistent support provided by ADFD for the implementation of the projects and explored avenues to go forward with the proposals submitted to the Fund.

In particular, Minister Zameer expressed gratitude for the support towards the extension of Velana International Airport, noting that it will expand connectivity, leading to increased tourist arrivals and strengthening the resilience of the economy of the Maldives. He also highlighted the development of Maafaru International Airport project, including the expansion of the airport, would result in the realization of even more avenues for investment cooperation.

Minister Zameer was accompanied at the meeting by the Additional Secretary of the Ministry, Shiruzimath Sameer, the Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of the Maldives in Abu Dhabi, Hassaan Waheed, and the Counsellor of the Embassy of the Maldives in Abu Dhabi, Moomina Ibrahim.

ENDS