Mohamed Latheef (ambassador)
Encyclopedia
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Latheef (Dhivehi
: މުހައްމަދު ލަތީފް) is the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to the United Nations
for the Republic of Maldives
, based in New York
.
He presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 11 November 2002. Dr. Latheef took over the role, first on a charge d'affaires
basis from Husain Shihab on September 9 2002. Prior to this, he had been the Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the United States
.
Latheef was prominent in attempting to encourage member states of the United Nations to provide aid following the effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on the Maldives
.
in educational planning and a master's degree
in Education from the University of Wales
, with postgraduate studies in demography
from Cardiff University
in Wales
Prior to becoming an ambassador, Latheef held a number of posts in Maldivinian government
, including posts at the Educational Development Centre, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Maldivian Embassy in Sri Lanka
.
He became deputy speaker
, and appointed a member of the Peoples' Special Assembly in 1979, retaining this post until 1997. Latheef was also the national director of the Project for Public Administration Reform, and director general of the Maldives Centre for Management and Administration, both from 1992 to 1993. Also in 1993, he was made deputy minister of the Ministry of Atolls
Administration.
Finally, before moving into a diplomatic post, Latheef served as the minister of education from 1993 until 2002, and served as a member of the Maldives parliament (the Majlis
) between 2000-2002.
Mohamed Latheef is married, with three children.
Dhivehi language
Maldivian is an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Maldives where it is the national language. It is also the first language of nearly 10,000 people in the island of Minicoy in the Union territory of Lakshadweep, India where the Mahl dialect of the Maldivian...
: މުހައްމަދު ލަތީފް) is the Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
for the Republic of Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
, based in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
He presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 11 November 2002. Dr. Latheef took over the role, first on a charge d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
basis from Husain Shihab on September 9 2002. Prior to this, he had been the Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Latheef was prominent in attempting to encourage member states of the United Nations to provide aid following the effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on the Maldives
Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on the Maldives
In the Maldives, 82 people were killed and 26 reported missing and presumed dead after it was hit by a tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on 26 December 2004. Two-thirds of the capital city Malé was flooded during the early hours of the day...
.
Background
Mohamed Latheef holds a doctorateDoctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in educational planning and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Education from the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
, with postgraduate studies in demography
Demography
Demography is the statistical study of human population. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic human population, that is, one that changes over time or space...
from Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Prior to becoming an ambassador, Latheef held a number of posts in Maldivinian government
Politics of the Maldives
The politics of the Maldives take place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President is the Head of Government. Executive power is exercised by the government. The President heads the executive branch and appoints the Cabinet; Like many presidential democracies, each member of...
, including posts at the Educational Development Centre, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Maldivian Embassy in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
He became deputy speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
, and appointed a member of the Peoples' Special Assembly in 1979, retaining this post until 1997. Latheef was also the national director of the Project for Public Administration Reform, and director general of the Maldives Centre for Management and Administration, both from 1992 to 1993. Also in 1993, he was made deputy minister of the Ministry of Atolls
Atolls of the Maldives
The Maldives are formed by a number of natural atolls plus atolls in the form of a few islands and isolated reefs today which form a pattern stretching from 7 degrees 10' North to 0 degrees 45' South....
Administration.
Finally, before moving into a diplomatic post, Latheef served as the minister of education from 1993 until 2002, and served as a member of the Maldives parliament (the Majlis
Majlis of the Maldives
The Majlis of the Maldives or the People’s Majlis is the main legislature body of the Maldives. The Majlis has the authority to enact, amend and revise laws, except the constitution of the Maldives. Majlis is composed of 77 members...
) between 2000-2002.
Mohamed Latheef is married, with three children.