President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has presented the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin to the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid. He was presented with the laurels at the special ceremony held Wednesday to mark this year’s National Day, at Republic Square.
The Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin is conferred to acknowledge an individual’s national or international services by the government. The Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin is dedicated to Sultan al-Ghazi Hassan Izzuddin Sri Kula Ranmiba Kahthiri Bawana Maharadun. The President decided to honour Abdulla Shahid as part of his ongoing Official Visit to the Maldives in his capacity as the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, by invitation from President Solih. It is also because the President regards Abdulla Shahid's election to the UN leadership with a majority of votes as a great honour for the Maldives, as well as a sign of the international community's acceptance of Abdulla Shahid's foreign services. Abdulla Shahid was awarded the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin in recognition of his efforts to boost the Maldives' foreign sector and bringing pride to the Maldives in the international arena.
Abdulla Shahid began his services in the Maldives foreign sector in July 1983 as a junior-level staff. He was appointed as the Minister for State for Foreign Affairs on 14 July, 2005, and he was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs on 23 August, 2007. He served as the Foreign Minister until the end of Former President Uz Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's presidency.
One of the most notable services provided by Abdulla Shahid in the foreign service was the expansion of the Maldives' diplomatic footprint around the world, which included the establishment of embassies in the United States, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Singapore.
Moreover, Abdulla Shahid was the Foreign Minister appointed by President Solih after he was sworn into Office. After being appointed as the Foreign Minister for a second time, Abdulla Shahid did tremendous work to make Maldives trustworthy, respected and effective in the international sphere. In this regard he worked hard to re-establish relations with states with whom relations were previously terminated and worked on establishing bilateral relations with new countries.
