President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated he has discussed expediting reforms at the United Nations (UN) with President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) Abdulla Shahid.
Speaking at a joint press conference at the President's Office, President Solih disclosed that discussions with the PGA were focused upon strengthening the relations between the Maldives and the UN and on ways to further reinforce existing ties. The president urged the PGA to embrace the values upheld by the Maldives in areas such as foreign policy, democracy, climate change, and upholding human rights. He also highlighted the Maldives has always pressed for the reform of the UN and said he discussed expediting such reforms during Shahid's tenure.
Furthermore, President Solih and PGA Shahid discussed areas of interest such as the impact of climate change on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and deliberated on ways to increase international involvement in such efforts through an inclusive arrangement. The president said he believes the UN plays a central role in assisting the world to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and commended the efforts of the PGA for his role in resource mobilisation in regard to equitable access to affordable COVID-19 vaccines.
Furthermore, President Solih highlighted the plight of girls and women across the globe and stressed the importance of gender equality, social parity, and the empowerment of girls and women, urging the PGA to give precedence to such efforts. He also noted how the UN bodies assisted the Maldives financially during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed his gratitude to the UN on behalf of all Maldivians.