The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Maldivian President’s visit runs into a hitch

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Monday, Oct 26, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Maldivian President’s visit runs into a hitch

Staff Reporter

Programme in CII-GBC cancelled due to lack of ‘MEA clearance’

HYDERABAD: The visit of President of the Republic of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed to CII-Godrej Green Business Centre here on Sunday was cancelled at the last moment due to lack of “protocol clearance” from the Ministry of External Affairs.

He was scheduled to interact with media persons on climate change and related issues and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Chairman, CII AP Chapter Y. Harish Chandra Prasad and another CII functionary S. Raghupathy told reporters that lack of protocol clearance from the MEA led to the cancellation. However, they were not aware of the reasons for denying the clearance.The Maldivian leader was stated to be visiting a corporate hospital around that time. In an informal chat with the media persons later Mr. Harish Chandra Prasad said President Nasheed was in the country to seek India’s cooperation in combating the climate change . The Republic of Maldives was planning to buy land in India, particularly in Kerala, Sri Lanka and Australia, if possible, for resettlement of its people in the event the islands get submerged in sea. Even a centimetre rise in the sea level was likely to wipe out the island nation located adjacent to Lakshadweep islands.

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