Commonwealth not pushing for early polls as vehemently as before: President

President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has claimed that the Commonwealth was no longer pressing for early presidential elections in the Maldives as "vehemently as they were before." In an interview with NDTV during his current visit to India, President Waheed further said that he believed that the Commonwealth was more aware of the situation in the Maldives and the government was extending its fullest cooperation to the organization.

Referring to the bill submitted by two parties of the present coalition government to withdraw the Maldives from the Commonwealth, President stressed that he was not in favor of such a notion.

President Waheed expressed his confidence in the composition of the National Enquiry Commission established to probe the circumstances surrounding the transfer of power and said if the Commonwealth would take a closer look at the proceedings of the Commission it would ease their questions and concerns regarding the independence and impartiality of the Commission.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) had warned stronger measures against the Maldives if the composition of the Enquiry Commission is not revised after citing that the Commission was not impartial.

 President further said the government of India was with the government of Maldives and the Indian government wished for the Maldives to resolve the current issues internally.

To that end, Waheed said that it was in the best interest of India to see democracy and stability prevail in the Maldives.

The President also spoke on the fears if Islamic extremism in the country and assured that the matter was not out of control and could be neutralized without much difficulty.

President Waheed allayed concerns of India with regard to the relationship between Maldives and China and assured that Maldives would always value and give precedence to the ties it had with India.

He also stressed that the government of Maldives would respect every agreement made with India and the recent issues with Indian companies would be resolved amicably in a professional manner.
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