President Mohamed Nasheed has said that he supported the call by President Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste, for an arms embargo on Burma until Aung Sang Suu Kyi was released. He made the statement at a joint press conference with the President of Timor-Leste at the President’s Office on Sunday.
Stating that while he was “encouraged by the process of engagement that is underway” for the release of Aung Sang Suu Kyi, President Nasheed said that he hoped that she would be released before the elections in Burma later this year.
Highlighting the discussions he had with President Ramos-Horta, President Nasheed said that he held “in depth discussion on a number of issues including development, poverty eradication, and climate change”.
“The visit by President of Timor-Leste has enabled us to identify further opportunities and advances that is mutual interest for both our countries,” Nasheed added.
Speaking at the press conference, President Ramos-Horta said that he had great admiration for President Nasheed for his “commitment and compassion to put the Maldives on centre stage in the fight to preserve our planet”.
He also commended President Nasheed for the reconciliatory approach to past political opponents.
At the press conference, President Nasheed and President Ramos-Horta took questions from the media on a number of issues including climate change and transitional justice.
Before the press conference, the government of Maldives signed two agreements with the government of Timor-Leste. The two agreements are:
- Agreement on the facilitation of visa agreement between the government of Maldives and the government of Timor-Leste
- Agreement on cultural cooperation between the government of Maldives and the government of Timor-Leste
Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed signed the agreements on behalf of the government of Maldives and Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste Zakarias Albani da Costal signed on behalf of Timor-Leste.
