FM fails to return month after UN term expiry
Shahid's term as president of the UN General Assembly expired on September 12. He has not returned home in the month past.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid has returned to the United States after completing one of his foreign visits, continuing his residence in the US even after a month to the conclusion of his term as the president of the 76th United Nations General Assembly.
Shahid's term as president of the UN General Assembly expired on September 12. He has not returned home in the month past.
Shahid's actions pertaining to his social media handles since completing his UN term include:
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He attended the high level week of the new session of the UN General Assembly in New York from September 13 to 26; met with foreign ministers of countries on the sidelines.
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September 27 - As a special envoy of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, he visited Tokyo to attend the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; also met with senior Japanese government officials as foreign minister
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Shahid did not visit Maldives after his Japan visit. Atoll Times has ascertained that Shahid was abroad campaigning for the UN Human Rights Council elections
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Shahid accompanied President Solih during the president's official visit to Bahrain last week
Shahid then returned to New York to attend the UN Human Rights Council election held at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday evening, where Maldives secured a seat on the council.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Safaath Ahmed Zahir declined to comment on Shahid's return. However, she has previously assured that Shahid was fulfilling his official responsibilities even though he had not returned home.
During Shahid's year in New York under the UN presidency, the state had spent on some of his trips in addition to his official remunerations as foreign minister.
Some, including parliamentarians and lawyers, had then questioned the legality of Shahid assuming the presidency of the UN General Assembly when the Maldivian constitution prohibited a minister from doing another job.
Those who oppose the foreign minister's activities say that it is against the spirit of the constitution to assume other responsibilities while serving as a minister.
However, the government said that there was no problem in serving as minister as well as the president of UN General Assembly, as the UN position is not a paid position.
