India assures all support to Maldives

New Delhi, May 18 (UNI) India today pledged all possible support and help to the Maldives in its infrastructure development and information technology sector.

This was conveyed by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed who hosted a lunch in honour of visiting Maldivian Minister for Information Technology and Arts, Mohammed Nasheed.

Mr Ahamed said India and the Maldives enjoyed close, cordial and multi-dimensional relations. The two countries shared ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity.

Mr Nasheed said India's assistance in defusing the 1988 coup attempt represented Indo-Maldivian understanding and amity. India was among the first to recognise the Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations.

During his three-day visit, the Maldivian minister held discussions with Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and several officials.

Since Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Male in 1986, the relations between the two sides have been nurtured and strengthened by regular high-level visits.

Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has visited India on a number of occasions, while former Prime Ministers V P Singh, Chandra Shekhar, P V Narasimha Rao and I K Gujral, besides former Vice President S D Sharma visited Maldives.

Vice President Krishan Kant visited Maldives in November 1989 to attend Mr Gayoom's assumption of office for a fifth-term. Besides, there have been several ministerial visits from both sides.

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