Government expects FM to return next week
During Shahid's year in New York for the UN presidency, the state had spent on some of his trips in addition to his official remunerations as foreign minister.
By
Ahmed Naif
Foreign minister Abdulla Shahid, who served as the president of the 76th United Nations General Assembly, will return to Maldives most likely next week, presidential spokesperson Miuvan Mohamed said on Thursday.
Shahid continues residence in the United States a month after the conclusion of his term at the UN.
-
Shahid accompanied President Solih during the president's official visit to Bahrain last week.
-
He joined the President flying from the US and returned to the US again after the Bahrain visit.
Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office on Thursday, Miuvan said:
-
Shahid remains in the US as the president's envoy at the ongoing high-level meetings in the UN.
-
In the meantime, Shahid has also worked to secure a seat for Maldives in the UN Human Rights Council.
-
Even if he is abroad, Shahid is fulfilling all his responsibilities as Foreign Minister; there have been no obstacles.
"I don't know when exactly the foreign minister Abdulla Shahid will be returning, but according to information, I believe he will be arriving sometime next week," Miuvan said.
"Even though Shahid is abroad, he fulfils his responsibilities in the Foreign Minister’s capacity. All of his travelling is part of his work too”.
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 the UN General Assembly, as the UN position is not a paid position.
