President of the Academy of the Dhivehi Language [Dhivehi Bahuge Academy], Ashraf Ali has requested President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to address the UN's 74th General Assembly in local language Dhivehi.
The request has prompted debate on the subject by the public on different social media platforms.
The 74th General Assembly of the United Nations is slated to commence on the 17th and conclude on the 30th of September. The UN holds its General Assembly annually, wherein leaders of countries gather to debate about international issues and sustainable development goals.
It has been six years since a President of Maldives has attended and addressed at a UN General Assembly at the UN. While no Maldivian presidents have remarked at the Assembly in recent years, the seventh president of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is set to address at this year's UN General Assembly.
Ashraf stated that addressing the assembly in Dhivehi would raise the honor and respect of the country's nationality. He urged the president to address and raise issues faced by the Maldives in Dhivehi.
While some people applauded his request, others expressed strong objections. Debates on the subject are still ongoing on social media. Those who object to the idea said the international community would better understand the issues faced by the nation if addressed in English.
A Maldives President last addressed at the UN General Assembly in 2014. Former President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik addressed at the assembly as a special representative of then President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom. President Waheed also addressed at the assembly while he was in Office in 2012, then Acting Foreign Minister Dr Mariyam Shakeela spoke at the assembly the following year.
During his five years in Office, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom did not attend or address at the UN assembly.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
