Status of Maldivian non-surrender of nationals

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000533

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, PM/B, L

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03-28-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV KTIA MV
SUBJECT: Status of Maldivian non-surrender of nationals
agreement

Refs: (A) SA/INS-Colombo 03/27/03 class e-mail

- (B) Colombo 512, and previous
- (C) State 74061 (all Notal)

(U) Classified by Lewis Amselem, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons: 1.5 (B,D).


1. (C) Per Ref B and previous, Mission has been in
close and constant touch with the Maldivian government,
pressing it to sign the non-surrender of nationals
agreement as soon as possible. The Maldivian MFA has
told us that the plan is to have Foreign Minister Jameel
sign it. (Note: The Maldivians have, so far, made it
very clear to us that they want Jameel to be the
principal who signs the document for their side.) Once
that is done, the document would then be sent to Embassy
Colombo for signature by the Ambassador.


2. (C) We are not sure why the Maldivians are taking so
long to complete this process, since agreement on the
text was completed last week. (Note: Per Ref B, the
final text is that proposed by the Maldivians and
approved by Washington in Ref C.) It is possible that
the war with Iraq has somehow affected Maldivian
thinking on this issue (although we do not think this is
the case). It is also possible that there is
bureaucratic confusion leading to inertia in the
government (which is endemic in the GoRM),or that
Jameel is busy and just has not got around to signing
the document. In any case, as noted, we are pressing
the Maldivians hard to wrap this up ASAP.


3. (C) That said, Mission has forwarded Ref A request
that the Maldivians sign the document during Ambassador
Lino's visit to New York next week. The MFA is closed
today, as it is Friday (the start of the weekend in the
Maldives),and Mission has not received a response to
this request. We suggest that Washington continue to
work this issue with the Maldivian Mission in New York.
We will continue to be in close contact with the MFA on
this important matter.


4. (U) Minimize considered.

WILLS