High Commissioner of United Kingdom to Sri Lanka and Maldives James Dauris made his final calls President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Vice President Faisal Naseem in respective meetings held at the President's Office on Thursday.
Ending his four-year diplomatic tenure as the non-resident Ambassador to Maldives, based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Dauris paid farewell calls and declared his elation to end his diplomatic posting on a high note owing to the palpable change in the country's political atmosphere post-elections.
The High Commissioner noted that throughout his term, it was evident that Maldives and UK share many common principles pertinent to international affairs, including a belief in free-trade, a peaceful and prosperous Indian Ocean, environmental preservation and marine conservation.
He expressed further that the countries' practical cooperation in the international fora is strengthened by friendly bilateral bonds rooted in history, language and ongoing collaborations in fields such as education, commerce, and security.
Referring to the ongoing discourse between Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid and Maldives’ Ambassador to the UK, with the Commonwealth’s Secretary-General, Dauris underlined the UK's support for expediting the renewal of Maldives' membership. He elaborated that this endeavour has gained much traction due to the Commonwealth’s very positive published assessment of the Parliamentary Elections held recently on April 6, 2019.
During their respective meetings with the High Commissioner, Maldives' top officials acknowledged and thanked the UK government for their constructive role throughout the country's democratic journey.
President Solih and VP Faisal Naseem expressed the administration's eagerness to continue the work with Dauris' successor to further relations. It was highlighted that progress would be better facilitated by the resident UK Embassy proposed to open in Maldives in the near future.
The President and Vice President reiterated the Ambassador’s positive sentiments and wished him well in future endeavors, ending the meeting with the declaration that Dauris is considered a dear friend to Maldives, always be welcome in the country.
The government of Maldives expressed gratitude to Ambassador Dauris for the services he has rendered towards progressing mutual diplomatic ties.
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