Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the situation in the Maldives

Press release 455/2006
9 November, 2006

The European Union  is concerned about increasing tensions in the Maldives. We urge the Maldivian government and the Maldivian Democratic Party to act responsibly and to exercise utmost restraint in order to avoid further civil unrest, violence and arrests.  Both sides should avoid any steps that could endanger the political reform and democratisation process.

The EU calls on the both sides to resume discussions as soon as possible on the implementation of the democratisation process and the promotion of democracy in the Maldives.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.