Belgian Mediation Expert Pierre-Yves Monette has said that compared with other countries in similar situations, there are no serious obstacles to political party talks in the Maldives.
Monette was sent by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Mujtaba’s request to advise and assist him in this process. Monette is an expert who has mediation experience within the UN, worked as an Ombudsman, authored several books, and worked with the Belgian King’s Council.
Speaking to Sun Online after last night’s meeting, Monette said that his past experience in mediation has been that parties refuse to listen to one another, but this is not the case in the Maldives:
“The worst thing would be not to want to listen to others, to be incapable of listening to other points of view. I have experienced this in my job in many other countries – but I don’t find that here. There is clearly willingness to listen, and to talk. They know they disagree on major issues. They are ready to listen to the arguments of others and to enter a dialogue: this is the beginning of a possible solution.”
Monette said that the only way to get out of a political deadlock is to hold discussions. He noted that dialogue had begun, and it is important to talk on concrete issues that are dividing parties:
“The thing we need to do now is to keep talking on concrete issues that are dividing the parties. They will find out that the issues don’t actually divide them, but that they all agree on them.”
Monette said that his meetings separately with political parties revealed willingness to work and hold concrete discussions, and last night’s meeting opened doors to this possibility:
“I was asked by the Convener, in agreement with all the nine parties, to meet them individually [while he was away]. The result was that I saw willingness to work. I have also seen fatigue, that we should now enter concrete discussions. That’s precisely what we have started tonight. That’s why I think tonight was a very good session.”