Ambassador Esparon presents credentials in Maldives |16 April 2009
Ambassador Esparon then had fruitful talks with Mr Nasheed in which they discussed the need for Maldives and Seychelles to work closely with each other and to further cement the excellent ties of friendship and cordial understanding.
President Nasheed, in conveying his best wishes to President James Michel, the government and people of Seychelles, repeated the intention of his government to sign a fishing agreement with Seychelles and to explore other avenues of cooperation.
Mr Esparon also passed on President Michel’s warm greetings to the president, government and people of Maldives and his wish for the two countries to champion the cause of environment protection, mobilising and educating world opinion on the challenges and opportunities facing Small Island Developing States.
Maldives and Seychelles are frontline states in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions, Mr Esparon said.
After meeting Mr Nasheed, Ambassador Esparon also met the Maldivian ministers for foreign affairs; tourism, arts and culture; education; and housing, transport and environment, as well as the speaker of the people’s majlis (assembly).
During his stay in Maldives, Ambassador Esparon was also invited to take part in a two-day conference entitled Maldives Partnership Forum III.
The forum was an initiative of the government of Maldives in collaboration with the United Nations and was a chance for Maldives to talk to its partners so as to address the development challenges facing the country.
It was also an ideal opportunity for the new administration to present its policies and strategic direction to its partners.
Mr Esparon assessed his working visit to Maldives as very fruitful as it signals a new era in the diplomatic relations and bilateral cooperation between Maldives and Seychelles.