President Mohamed Nasheed today opened Maldives donor conference 2010, with an appeal for assistance to consolidate and strengthen democracy in the Maldives.

Highlighting that the Maldives has now embarked on major fiscal and economic reforms overseen by the IMF, President Nasheed stressed that the Maldives “still require significant budgetary and developmental help, to see us through this transitional phase”.

“We need the assistance to foster people’s confidence in the changes we are bringing during this turbulent transitional stage of our budding democracy,” he added.

In his speech at the inauguration function, President Nasheed noted that “according to World Bank statistics, the Maldives faced the worst economic situation of any country undergoing democratic transition, since records began in 1956”.

Stating that just as people need liberty for progress, business also needs freedom to prosper, President Nasheed said the government was therefore “implementing reforms to liberate the economy”.

Referring to the current political situation in the Maldives, President said that there were “elements in the opposition determined to block progress in the Majlis” and that some opposition figures were “flirting with violence”.

Emphasising government’s efforts to strengthen democracy in the country, President said for democracy to flourish, the government must show that people’s lives are improving.

“We ask for assistance to help the government fulfil its modest election pledges,” he said.

 Source: Presidents Office – Press Release, Ref. # 2010-239