Nasheed claims govt blocked UN pass for General Assembly visit

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has alleged that the Maldivian government denied him the necessary permits to enter the United Nations headquarters in New York for the General Assembly, his office said on Monday.

Nasheed, who is in the United States in his capacity as Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), stated through his office that the Foreign Ministry refused to obtain the permits required for access to the UN.

According to Nasheed’s office, all other arrangements had been made for him to attend the meeting, and there was no procedural obstacle to his participation in an official capacity.

The statement added that as a former President, Speaker of Parliament and sitting Member of Parliament, Nasheed had always sought to attend international events representing the Maldives with the country’s flag and emblem on official credentials. His office maintained that such representation carried benefits for the Maldives.

“As a former President of a country, it is the custom of the international arena to attend international official meetings on behalf of that country,” the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry was not available for comment.