President Waheed (R) meeting the UN Secretary General during a trip abroad on June. FILE PHOTO
President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik today stressed that the a decision on the controversial agreement between the government and Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) operator GMR, India needs to be made soon and hence he was obtaining the views of all relevant stakeholders.
Speaking to reporters prior to departing to New York to partake in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, President Waheed vowed to not back down even an inch in making a decision over the GMR issue.
"When the time is right, I won't take a single step back in making a decision over the matter. So Inshah Allah it will be done. Based on the information available, I will Insha Allah make the best decision for the Maldives," President said speaking publicly for the first time after the government publicized the economic review of the GMR agreement.
When asked of his views on annulling the agreement with GMR, President said that he had not discounted that as one possible option for a decision.
"Inshah Allah my decision will be the best one," he added.
In response to a question whether he had met with the team from GMR that came to the Maldives yesterday, President Waheed denied meeting the head of GMR and his team while stating that they had not even requested for an audience with him.
President Waheed is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on two occasions, including the general session of the Assembly and the high-level meeting on the rule of law.
"I will focus my address on the present treatment of smaller nations and special efforts to maintain independence and sovereignty of such nations. I will also touch on the way Maldives was treated by some of the larger countries," President revealed.
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