The Maldives calls on the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to provide assistance to small island nations. The statement was made by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel at the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
In his statement, State Minister Khaleel reflected on the various issues and crises happening around the world, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. Noting that countries in special situations, such as Least Developed Countries (LDC), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) had to bear disproportionate burdens during the pandemic, the state minister shed light on the importance of multilateral alliances such as NAM, in finding solutions to these global crises. On that note, he also highlighted the essential role played by international assistance, especially that from NAM member states, for the Maldives to have been able to contain COVID-19, expand its healthcare capacity, and rollout a highly effective national vaccination programme.
Furthermore, State Minister Khaleel called on NAM to take the initiative to provide direct economic assistance, concessional financing, and debt relief to LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS. He stated that NAM must emphasise the need for a more sustainable debt architecture, which includes both extending the loan moratoriums enacted during the pandemic and outright debt-forgiveness. He further elaborated on the effects of the climate crisis on member states, especially for SIDS such as the Maldives, and the need for climate financing and investment in mitigation and adaptation measures.
In conclusion, State Minister Khaleel called on member states to come together to uphold the multilateral system and reiterated the commitment of the Maldives to the values and principles of NAM.
The Ministerial Meeting of NAM was held under the theme of The Role for the Non-Aligned Movement in Post-Pandemic Global Recovery: The Way Forward. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and was attended by up to fifty foreign ministers of NAM member states, as well as by deputy ministers and permanent representatives to the United Nations (UN).