President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan has pledged to allocate funds in next year’s budget to construct new premises for the Maldivian High Commission in New Delhi.
Speaking during a visit to the high commission yesterday, the president said he wished to strengthen the mission’s role and help resolve concerns about a lack of staff presently employed to oversee its work.
Waheed, along with representatives from his government, have been in the India this week meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the present political and economic situation in the Maldives.
Speaking yesterday, President Waheed played up the importance of the high commission in strengthening ties between the Maldives and India. He also praised High Commissioner Abdul Azeez Yoosuf and the mission’s efforts in helping to secure aid and other development assistance in recent years.
The president added that the high commission’s ability to conduct its work presently needed to be strengthened, and that he would aim to ensure financing could be made available to achieve this.
According to the President’s Office website, High Commissioner Yoosuf spoke about methods to “broaden the role” of the diplomatic mission in India.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla also spoke during the visit that he would look to provide additional assistance in increase the role of the Maldivian High Commission in New Delhi.
This is preposterous. Why should the Govt spend money for a foreign mission in Delhi.