International Relations

Thursday, 16 September 2010 06:39

Though one of the world’s smallest nations, the Republic of the Maldives maintains a strong international presence, raising our voice in support of ideals inherent to the Maldivian nation. Among our key issues is ensuring Climate Change Adaptation, harmonizing Sustainable Development, promoting Human Rights, encouraging Democratic Development, ensuring Peace and Security, and exploring Commercial and Economic Development

While much of the history of our international engagement has been passive, we believe that it is our responsibility, being a full member of the community of nations, to reach out to the global populous and engage them on issues of dire concern.

With resident diplomatic missions in Colombo, New Delhi, Islamabad, Dhaka, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Tokyo, Beijing, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, London, Geneva, and the European Union as well as non-resident accreditation to a number of countries including Nepal, Bhutan, Spain, France, Palestine, Italy, Australia, and others; the Foreign Service of the Maldives has become truly international in its outlook. Driven by the fundamental goal of fostering warm and close relations with the international community, in pursuit of friendship, understanding and co-operation, it serves to communicate the interests and aspirations of the people of the Maldives.

History of Maldivian Foreign Policy

The Maldives has remained an autonomous nation throughout its recorded history, save for a brief spell of Portuguese occupation in the mid-16^th century.  From 1887 to 1965, the country was a British Protectorate which retained full internal sovereignty. At independence in 1965, the Maldives made its first true step into the community of nations by joining the United Nations.

Since 1978, the Maldives has followed a policy of international engagement, intensifying links with donor institutions and countries, even joining the Commonwealth in 1982.

A founder member of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), the Maldives is also a member of the World Trade Organization and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. It is also party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as well as numerous conventions on the protection of environment, the suppression of terrorism and on the promotion of human rights.

In the transition towards a liberal democracy, the Maldives has successfully established dialogue and collaboration with the international human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and acceded to numerous human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

During the same period, the country has also intensified links with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and joined the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

With resident diplomatic missions in Colombo, New Delhi, Islamabad, Dhaka, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Tokyo, Beijing, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, London, Geneva, and the European Union as well as non-resident accreditation to a number of countries including Nepal, Bhutan, Spain, France, Palestine, Italy, Australia, and others; the Foreign Service of the Maldives has become truly international in its outlook. Driven by the fundamental goal of fostering warm and close relations with the international community, in pursuit of friendship, understanding and co-operation, it serves to communicate the interests and aspirations of the people of the Maldives.

Key issues of interest include advancing national development, supporting international peace and security, including the protection of the environment and the promotion of human rights, and upholding the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

• Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Commonwealth
• Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)
• European Investment Bank (EIB)
• Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
• G-77 (coalition of developing countries)
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD; World Bank Group)
• International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
• International Development Association (IDA; World Bank Group)
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC; World Bank Group)
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
• Interpol
• International Olympic Committee (IOC)
• International Telecoms Union (ITU)
• Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
• Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC)
• Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
• South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP)
• United Nations (UN)
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
• United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
• Universal Postal Union (UPU)
• World Customs Organisation (WCO)
• World Health Organisation (WHO)
• World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
• World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)
• World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
• World Trade Organisation (WTO)