President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has declared that the European Union has threatened the state by imposing export restrictions, while speaking at his official visit to Dhiyamigili, Thaa Atoll.
The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) adopted earlier this July a framework for restrictive sanctions against the country and against certain political leaders and their associates, to be put in effect if the current political situation further debilitates in their view.
Most of the Maldives' fisheries export is to countries of the EU.
EU is set to implement the sanctions once a list of sanctioned individuals is identified and published.
The president has stated that the EU sanctions are being imposed because of the government’s stance against religions other than Islam prevailing in Maldives.
Inquiring further, President Yameen asked whether the upcoming elections will be influenced by the EU. He also demanded why presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu) of the opposition coalition has not condemned the sanctions imposed by the EU.
President Yameen urged the people to come forth through the judicial procedures to investigate any case where an individual’s rights have been neglected. He also requested the opposition coalition to visit and submit an issue with the corruption watchdog, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), should they wish to investigate the president.
He declared that corruption was evident in Maldives Marketing and Public Relations (MMPRC), but since his government had brought the corruption to light, the opposition has no right to call him out on it.
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