India and Maldives were involved in a diplomatic row over intemperate remarks made against the Indian High Commissioner by the spokesperson to the Maldivian President which was described by the envoy as against diplomatic protocol.
In a damage-control exercise later, a statement posted on the official Web site of Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed said the government of Maldives disassociates itself from the remarks made by Abbas Adil Riza and some other government officials, saying they did not reflect the views of the government.
The remarks were made by Adil Riza at a rally where he called Dnyaneshwar Mulay a “traitor” and “an enemy of Maldives“.
The rally was organised by the “23rd December alliance” on Friday night to protest against the leasing of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport to Indian infrastructure major GMR by the Government of former President Mohamed Nasheed. The alliance was born out of opposition by some parties to Nasheed.
“A diplomat’s job is to work for his country and people and not to protect the interests of one private company...He is a traitor and enemy of Maldives and Maldivian people. We don’t want these kind of diplomats on our soil,” Riza, a political appointee, said striking an aggressive posture.
In a statement, the Indian High Commission said High Commissioner Mulay has condemned the remarks of the spokesperson to President Waheed, asserting it was “against diplomatic protocol”.
Mulay also said that the Government of Maldives has been told that settling issues of huge mutual interest cannot be done on public space or on stage.
Noting that the new Government in Maldives has raised some issues particularly in respect of GMR, the High Commission said they can be addressed through negotiations and if talks fail this country could go ahead with arbitration.
“The whole thing is in arbitration stage. If arbitration fails they (GMR and the government of Maldives) could find mutually accepted recourse either by going to the court of law or may be finding other mechanism available.
“We have told the Government of Maldives that settling issues of huge mutual interest cannot be done on public space or on stage. This has to be done through discussion.” the statement said.
The statement said it was also notable in this regard that President of Maldives on assumption of charge in 2012 gave an assurance to India and subsequently during his visit to New Delhi he assured Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that all the Indian investments, including the GMR, which happened to be the largest foreign investor in the country, will be protected and safeguarded.
“Similarly, all the agreements signed by the previous governments would also be safeguarded as such we have expressed our concern in very strong words to the Government of Maldives. And we have also conveyed that India would safeguard the country’s interest, including those related to our investment,” it added.
The statement said the Indian government has on regular basis engaged with the Maldivian government on all issues of mutual interest.
“Our relations have been very strong and lot of goodwill have been invested in it. India is the largest investment partner, India is the largest technical and capacity building partner. India’s trade, aid and development partnership is also the biggest one,” it added.
Keywords: Adil Riza, Maldives, diplomatic row with Maldives, India - Maldives row, GMR investment in Maldives, Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, India investment in Maldives, Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed, former President Mohamed Nasheed,
Comments:
Well these comments are totally uncalled for and speak of a lack of character and lack of maturity and a sensible thought process. It is a shame that people like them, so high in the diplomatic corps can foul mouth other important officials.
It was a mistake the Indian government recognized this government which came to power through a coup. It is said in Maldives a goat which jumps over one fence will jump over another fence. Waheed has no real power and act like a puppet.
Super...........
There is also a protocol of foreign diplomates to meet the countries politicians and other officials... but not in secrete as mulley is doing... why does he keep meeting MP's and other govt officials in secrete.
Maldives Goverment did not give any assurance to protect GMR, but they assured foreign
investors that does not mean about GMR or only Indian investors. GMR invested Maldives
against Maldives foreign investment law and regulation. Mulley is puppet of GMR, he is the
one who is creating tension between two country diplomacy day and night. Having dinner
with MPs and ministers and political party leaders..GMR must Go.
comon, Mullay is not that clean a guy.. he got his son employed in
former Dictator Gayoom's sin - in Law- Shuaib's law firm -- Shuaib,
Hussain and Co., and he has been wheeling and dealing too... And anyway,
India is overeeactign as always.. Indian's take offsense so easity and
yet they so many of them are corrupt..
GMR knows it used undue influence to win the contract and there are are serious
allegations against the company. The matter is in the courts, anti-corruption
commissions and even spilled on to the streets. If India is protecting such a
company it will only incite hatred against india by Maldivian public. After all india
and Maldives has had friendly relations for hundreds of years and im sure it is a
very high-stakes approach for Indian government to promote and interest of a
company against that that of a soveriegn freindly neighbour
The story of an Ant and an Elephant
I would like to ask Avinash is anyone in Maldives talking about other
Indian companies Taj,Indian Emporium,Monalals and more.the main reason
we the Maldivians are against GMR is 1,bad for our economy,2 our main
gate to Maldives,3 pure racist treatment to Maldivians how can you
justify all Indians working in Maldives GMR gets ud15 for there meals
and locals us3.90 and if you would like to know more ask a Maldivian.WE
WILL SAY THIS LOUD AND CLEAR GMR MUST GO AND WE WILL PROTEST UNTIL GMR
IS GONE.GMR MUST GO GMR MUST GO GMR MUST GO
Waheed Hassan, a man who boast himself for his experience in International Diplomacy,
do not know what diplomacy is.... Soon after the coup, His maiden showdown was with
Commonwealth, followed by EU and now it is India's turn. I wonder what this man had
learned from his experience in the UN. Had he been a good diplomats, Maldives could
have done much better and would have formed more closer relationship with it's neighbours
and with the international community.
When a "handful" of hooligans, led by the extremist Sheikh Imraan, who was in the frontline
to topple President Nasheed's Government, comes up on a stage with a green band on his
forehead and shouts " Allah Akbar" and says GMR should leave this country, it doesn't
mean that the majority of Maldivians are against GMR.
The people of Maldives are well aware that the country's economy is based on tourism and
most of the investments are from overseas. Therefore, Maldives cannot expel any investor
from this country.
If these irresponsible people are not stopped by Waheed, get ready for a confrontation with
the majority of Maldivians who want forign investors in this country...
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