There is no guarantee of survival for anyone nation in a world where the Maldives ceases to exist, the Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He added that the Maldives aspires to be more than another cautionary tale of “what happens when nature and the destructive forces she can unleash are not respected”.

Delivering a strong message on the climate front he said that they are determined to not passively wait on the climate front, reminding his country’s ambitious plan to reach net-zero by 2030. The archipelago would need international support, he added.  

Mentioning the recently released report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change weeks ago, he said it was a “shocking” reiteration of what we have been aware of for too long. There is “overwhelming” scientific evidence that the climate emergency will be “catastrophic” to all of humanity.  

He also presented the UNGA with letters penned by young Maldivian children pleading to the president to bring up the global climate crisis at the 76th UNGA. The Covid-19 pushed back years of progress, he said, adding that the global community needs work together in solidarity and in unity to achieve ambitious goals. 

Calling the Maldives a moderate with pluralist and rational values, he asked the world not to be “complacent to the growing threat posed by the extremist interpretations of religious texts.” He also mentioned the unsuccessful terrorist attack on former Maldivian President Mohammed Nashid by extremists. 

“We will not stand idly by while more such cowardly attacks are planned and while more young minds are poisoned by false and violent interpretations of religion.”

On the Palestinian issue, he said despite the years of efforts, Palestine has not received full recognition as a state. “I want to see a fully recognized Palestinian State with all the benefits and opportunities that membership confers. Maldivians will continue to fight for the full recognition of Palestine as an independent State,” he said. 

On Afghanistan, he said the Maldives remained “concerned” about the long-term stability of the country and would like to see the safety and rights of people and women are ensured. 

(SAM)