President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said disputes between regional countries can be resolved through peaceful dialogue.
In his Independence Day speech, the President had expressed concern over the lack of progress within South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and said the Maldives is willing to play a mediating role in restarting the work of the organisation.
Speaking on PSM’s Nation Chat podcast, the President highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties at the regional level. He said SAARC remains an important platform for rebuilding friendship, cooperation, and dialogue among South Asian countries. He noted the absence of a SAARC summit for more than a decade, and reiterated that the Maldives would assist in resuming SAARC’s activities.
The President highlighted former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s role in establishing and strengthening SAARC cooperation in the 1980s. He said the Maldives is working towards establishing an environment where countries can work together peacefully through dialogue and friendship. He said countries must work together for the region’s peace and stability, and said the Maldives hopes to work with SAARC member states to hold a SAARC Summit again soon.
SAARC comprises eight countries: Maldives, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. The last SAARC summit was held in 2014, while a planned summit in 2016 was cancelled amid tensions between member countries.