The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said on Wednesday, 14 October, that the government should have done more to prevent the closure of Germany's honorary consulate in Malé, warning that the closure reflects a wider neglect of the Maldives' relationships with its longstanding partners.
The German Federal Foreign Office has said the honorary consulate is closed until further notice, and has directed people who need emergency help to the German Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, the MDP said it was deeply saddened and concerned by the closure. The party described Germany as one of the Maldives' most valued development partners for more than six decades, both bilaterally and through its leadership in the European Union, with support in areas including climate change adaptation and the move to renewable energy. It also said Germany had stood with the Maldives through its struggle for democracy. "Its support for those in the Maldives who believe in democracy, human rights and the rule of law has never wavered, nor has its friendship with the MDP," the party said.
The MDP also pointed to Germany's importance as a source market for tourists. "German visitors choose the Maldives in large numbers, and they do so with the assurance that consular assistance is close at hand. The closure of the Honorary Consulate removes that assurance in a market where visitor confidence matters a great deal," the statement said.
"The MDP regrets that the Government did not do more to prevent its closure, which reflects a wider neglect of the relationships the Maldives has built with its longstanding partners," the party said. It added that it hopes consular services can be restored in Malé at the earliest opportunity, and that it remains firmly committed to the friendship and partnership between the Maldives and Germany.
The government has not issued an official comment on the closure, and Germany has not announced a date for the consulate to reopen. Former president Mohamed Nasheed said on Tuesday that he was worried by the closure.