Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has stated the implementation of the Foreign Service Act in the Maldives for the first time is a testament to the strong foreign policy of the administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The foreign minister made the remarks in a special statement posted following the implementation of the Foreign Service Act in the Maldives. The act was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in November 2021, and came into effect six months after ratification.
In his statement, Foreign Minister Shahid said the Foreign Service Act is the result of dedicated efforts to strengthen the administration of foreign service as per the vision of President Solih. He congratulated all staff of the foreign service on this historical occasion, noting the establishment of a separate foreign service has been a dream of many working in the foreign sector. He added the foreign service is the first line of defence in protecting the independence and sovereignty of the nation, and called on the foreign service staff to remain dedicated towards fulfilling their national duties in maintaining the Maldives’ strong position in the international arena and implementing the foreign policies of the administration.
Furthermore, Minister Shahid said the Maldivian foreign sector is currently experiencing its most successful and fruitful days, with the country leading the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the first time ever. He also highlighted the strong diplomatic and bilateral ties built over the past few years, and the strong human resource capacity built in the foreign sector during this time.
The Maldives Foreign Service Act governs the establishment of a separate entity titled Foreign Service to implement the foreign policy of the Maldives and specifies its organisational structure, management policy, and matters relating to diplomatic cadre. With the implementation of the Maldives Foreign Service Act, a completely separate institution called Maldives Foreign Service has been established.
The act stipulates that the Maldives Foreign Service will embody the ministry and oversee all Maldivian missions and consular posts. The act stipulates the president is the highest authority tasked with overseeing and directing the Maldives' foreign policy.