EU calls on Maldives gov't to resolve political standoff after ex-president jailed

The European Union (EU) has called on the Maldivian government to negotiate with opposition parties over tensions of jailed former President Mohamed Nasheed, an official said here on Thursday.

EU's ambassador accredited to the Maldives, David Daly, told local reporters that a high-level delegation from the union is in the country. He further said that one of primary purposes of the delegation is to better understand Maldives'heated political situation. "Maldives is a country that EU has always observed very closely. We have always been concerned about the situation here,"Daly said at the conference, held with ambassadors from countries such as Poland, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.

Daly further said that the ambassadors had met with senior members of government and that the meetings were fruitful. "We had discussed issues that we did not see eye to eye on. And we had discussed the ways in which Maldives could further build on its democratic commitments, separation of powers and hold the judiciary accountable," he said.

Daly also discussed the resolution on Maldives which was proposed to the European Parliament and added that there is great misconception about the resolution amongst locals. He said that the resolution would only be implemented once it is passed.

The resolution called on the EU and its member states to impose a travel ban on and to freeze international assets belonging to members of the Maldivian government and their leading supporters in the business community.

It further made a number of demands of the Maldivian government, including immediately and "unconditionally" release of former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim -- who are both serving prison sentences.

The resolution further called to take steps to restore confidence in Maldives' commitment to democracy by showing respect for freedom of expression.

The government had previously responded to the concerns with the justification that it cannot involve itself in affairs of the judiciary. President Yamin Abdul Gayoom had even said that Maldivians do not want to hear decisions made by "foreigners from faraway lands" over domestic affairs.

Foreign Minister Dhunya Maumoon has dismissed the concerns as " ignorant and biased" claims. She has responded by saying that the Maldives is a sovereign nation that would not give into any other nation or organisation's will. Endi