Monday, 14 December 2009

The Maldives wants to sign Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation with Timor-Leste

Minister Zacarias da Costa with Minister Ahmed Shaheed


The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Ahmed Shaheed, today expressed the desire of his government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Maldives and Timor-Leste.
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"There is potential for cooperation between our two countries, and we can set some priority areas through a Memorandum of Understanding," he said at a bilateral meeting with his East Timorese counterpart alongside the Forum of Democracy in Bali, Indonesia.

Also discussed was an exchange of official visits at Foreign Minister level, and regional and international issues including the issue of the candidacy of the Maldives for the UN Human Rights Council, Guantanamo, Myanmar, and Portugal's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Timor-Leste Foreign Minister, Dr Zacarias da Costa, assured Mr Shaheed of, Timor-Leste’s support for the Maldives’ bid for membership of the Human Rights Council. He said Mr Shaheed responded positively to Timor-Leste’s request for support for the candidacy of Portugal to a non-permanent seat in the United Nations’ Security Council.