Maldives Foreign Secretary, Ahmed Latheef, has delivered a statement at the Summit-level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group in response to COVID-19 on post-pandemic global recovery today held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In his statement, Foreign Secretary Latheef highlighted the recovery efforts by the Government of Maldives during COVID-19 pandemic including the initiative of the Government of Maldives to provide free vaccination to the vaccine-eligible population.

Mr. Latheef also expressed those conflicts across the world has generated new challenges for smaller countries and he called on the international community to provide financing options to developing countries especially Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He concluded his remarks by commending NAM for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and Member States of NAM to be resilient and unit to combat new and emerging threats.

The Non-Aligned Movement comprises of 120 Member States and is one of the largest international organizations after the United Nations. The Maldives joined NAM on 15 August 1976 and has been an active member in the organization.