Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, who has been elected President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly, has said that he wants to build his Presidency of Hope on vaccine equity.

Shahid won with a striking majority – 143 out of 191 votes cast by members, agains the former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Dr. Zalmai Rassoul.

In an interview with Indian news outlet, The Hindu, Minister Shahid said that it is clear that no one is safe until everyone is safe. There have been initiatives by the current PGA, and also the Secretary General, on vaccine issues, and I intend to carry forward their initiatives.

He said that vaccine nationalism should avoided at all costs, as it is going to be so destructive to the efforts of making sure to overcome the current pandemic that has devastated countries, both socially and economically.

Shahid said that India was the first country to give the Maldives a vaccine; within 48 hours of rollout in India, the vaccine was in Maldives. "I thank Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar for their outstanding support for the Maldives candidature. India has always been one of our closest friends, the best friend, that has always come to the assistance of the Maldives. In addition to India, many other countries also came out. Many other countries also actively campaigned here in New York to assist the Maldives win this election. However, the first country to come out openly and pledge its support to the Maldives’s candidature was India." He said.

When asked whether there is hope to receive more vaccines from India, Minister Shahid said that the situation in India, I understand, is very difficult now. "But it is our hope that as soon as things get better, we will be able to benefit from Indian vaccines. I am constantly in touch with the Indian leadership on this, our conversations are ongoing." He said.