Maldives emergency enters into EU’s agenda list

Male, February 27: The Maldives government is now on the list of European Union’s agenda list. The EU council had called for the genuine dialogue with Maldivian Government. EU has also said to lift the state emergency situation and follow the rules and laws. In response, the Maldives Government has issued an official statement describing the reasons for declaring and extending the emergency.

In the statement is written “As reiterated in a number of public statements and conveyed to the Ambassador of the European Union to the Maldives, the Government of Maldives remains firmly committed to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. The State of Emergency declared on 5 February 2018 was extended for further thirty days by the Parliament due to the threats posed to national security following the Supreme Court Order issued on 1 February 2018, following which the State found itself facing a Constitutional deadlock.”

 

The government said that they will continue to work with the EU and it's member countries and "appreciates the continued support and cooperation that the European Union is continuing to extend in strengthening the electoral, governance and democratic structures and framework."

While the Maldivian government has expressed gratitude for continual support, the EU Foreign Affairs Council passed a resolution today on the concerns regarding the Maldives.

 

The resolution called on the Maldivian government to lift the state of emergency declared on 5 February and hold discussions with the oppositions in an effort to hold a fair Presidential Election this year. The resolution also accused and condemned the influencing the courts.

If the state of the country does not improve, the EU intends to take targeted measures against the Maldives.