European Union (EU) has commended Maldives' counter-terrorism efforts.
In a statement released by EU following their Counter Terrorism Coordinator, Gilles De Kerchove's two-day official visit to the Maldives, they stated that the coordinator commended the efforts underway in the Maldives to step up and coordinate prevention of violent extremism and counter-terrorism, and underlined the EU's full support in this endeavor.
During his visit, Coordinator Kerchove met with senior government officials and conducted discussions, including Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, Home Minister Imran Abdulla, Tourism Minister Ali Waheed, Chief of Defence Force Abdulla Shamaal, Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed, Director of National Counter-Terrorism Unit Zakariyya Mansoor and Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed.
Maldives National Defence Force recently stated that the recent terrorist attacks in neighboring Sri Lanka has evoked threats to the Maldives.
MNDF is currently working with other entities to reform counter-terrorism efforts, which include the establishment and development of a network to exchange information with all intelligence agencies in the Maldives, MNDF has said.
EU's Counter Terrorism Coordinator, Gilles De Kerchove (L) took part in several discussions with government officials - Photo: Foreign Ministry
