President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has advocated on behalf of small island states at the Paris Peace Forum, held digitally from November 11-12.
The Paris Peace Forum was held to provide a platform for the global community to outline their countries’ particular priorities for a post COVID-19 world. In a video contribution broadcast during the formalities President Solih used this opportunity to speak on behalf of small island states, while asking the international community to pay more heed to their particular vulnerabilities.
In his remarks, the president noted that the ongoing pandemic has very clearly illustrated those vulnerabilities, and urged the international community to strive to build an international order that is just and beneficial to all nations. The president noted the Maldives’ economy has been severely impacted by the pandemic in light of the country’s dependence on tourism and the ongoing restrictions on air travel. He noted that despite the Maldives loosening its own restrictions in gradual phases, in proportion to its success in containing the virus, full economic recovery will take time; and that in the meanwhile the Maldives will need the support of the international community in terms of financial assistance, debt relief and technical assistance to help diversify the country’s economy.
In his message, President Solih urged collaboration on climate issues, noting that in a year or two the pandemic will subside but that the more serious threat of the climate emergency will remain. The president emphasised that the pandemic has been illustrative of two important facts, that ‘in today’s world, the effects of crises cannot be confined to borders; and they cannot be resolved without collective action’. He urged all to acknowledge those lessons and work together to ‘leave future generations a world that is sustainable and in balance with nature’ because that ‘is the only way in which we can truly build for the future’.