Government on Thursday claimed the European Union delegation who visited Maldives to discuss current political turmoil flew back after the apparent snub when a meeting between them and ministers were scheduled for 15:00hrs.
European Union's ambassador along with both German and UK ambassadors visited Maldives on Wednesday night to hold discussions with top government members in hopes of averting the tension brewing in the country.
President Office spokesperson for international platforms had tweeted stating the delegates met with Foreign Secretary Ahmed Sareer, and concluded a successful constructive discussion after which they requested to meet with Maldives cabinet ministers.
"Right after cabinet consultations, the delegate members were scheduled to meet with ministers at 15:00hrs. But by then, they had decided to fly back," Shihab had tweeted.
However according to the EU/UK delegation Maldives government had snubbed requests to meet with them after they had arrived for discussions.
EU ambassador to the Maldives Tung-Lai Margue expressed deep disappointment by the president and top government officials to even meet the delegation.
"It's unfortunate. None of our requests to meet the president or his ministers have been met," Margue noted.
UK high commissioner James Dauris reiterated concern the international community has over the swiftly eroding constitutional rights and freedoms in the country.
"The situation in this country does concern us. We came here as friends. We are here because we want to talk the government," Dauris said.
German ambassador Jorn Rhode echoed similar concerns noting that the delegation had come following the Maldives government's invitation to the international community to "visit and assess" the situation in the Maldives.
"We came but we couldn't meet anybody," Rhode lamented.
The government had in a statement officially invited its development partners and representatives from international organizations and associations to visit the Maldives to assess the situation in the Maldives and witness the safety and security of Male, for their own citizens as well as to engage with the government and key stakeholders in the country.
The snub comes as the UN security council prepares to discuss the crisis in the Maldives.
International news-wire Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted diplomats saying that during a closed-door meeting, the council will hear a report by the UN political affairs department, which asked the top UN body to take up the matter
The constitutional rights suspended by president Yameen effectively quashed any moves by the opposition to impeach him while also stripping the Supreme Court of any authority.
Since emergency state was declared police have made a series of high profile arrests including former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, chief justice Abdulla Saeed, top court judge Ali Hameed and the chief judicial administrator.
Following the declaration of emergency state, several countries including US, India, Australia, UN and the UK have expressed deep concern over the situation in the island nation.
