The Order of ‘Nishan Ghaazee’, the highest honour given by the Maldivian State, was conferred on Maumoon Abdul Gayoom by President Dr Mohamed Waheed at a ceremony held at the Republic Square. The Order of ‘Nishan Ghaazee’ has previously been conferred on Ibrahim Nasir, the first president of the second Republic of the Maldives. 1
In his congratulatory statement to the Maldives on behalf of President Barack Obama on the occasion of Maldives' 48th Independence Day, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that U.S will continue work on issues of mutual interest with the Maldives, particularly on fostering economic development and combating climate change. 2