Maldives has called for collective action from the international community in achieving a sustainable recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement was made by the Foreign Secretary of the Maldives Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, while speaking at the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Islamabad, Pakistan.
In his remarks, Foreign Secretary Ghafoor described how the pandemic has further marginalized the most vulnerable communities across the globe. He emphasised the importance of capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the COVID-19 outbreak, as the world navigates through its challenges. In this regard, he noted the path forward for an all-inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and equitable recovery lies at the heart of collective action.
The foreign secretary also drew attention to the most pressing issues facing the Muslim Ummah and voiced solidarity with the people of the Ummah, in particular, Palestinians, Rohingya Muslims, and Afghans, in their aspirations for justice and peace. On this note, he praised the efforts of the Muslim World League and the Government of Saudi Arabia in promoting Islam in its true moderate form. He also reiterated that the road to peaceful coexistence entails course correction, cooperation and compromise – on all sides.
Recognising the platform as a beacon to mend broken ties and strengthen friendships, Foreign Secretary Ghafoor noted the need to rethink and enhance diplomacy to reflect the new realities of the world. He also stressed the importance of utilising international platforms to push for diplomacy, peace, and harmony between nations and the international community as a whole. As such, he reaffirmed Maldives’ commitment to delivering on this year’s theme “Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development”.
In his statement, the foreign secretary also conveyed a message of felicitation to the Government and the people of Pakistan, as the country celebrates 75 years of independence.
This two-day meeting, convened once every year, brought together 57 OIC member states to deliberate on the general policy and issues of mutual concern. The Maldives became a member of the OIC in 1976, and since then the Maldives has actively participated in the activities and meetings of the organisation.