Maldives President Abdulla Yameen has appealed to his countrymen, especially the media, not to antagonize India as it is the closest friend and ally of the Maldives. Speaking at a function today, Mr Yameen also said that the Maldives is working on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India.<br/><br/>A statement issued by the President's Office said that his Administration would never entertain negative sentiments towards India, and highlighted that Indian assistance formed an invaluable contribution to the Maldives. <br/><br/>The statement added that Maldives and India have very close and long standing relations at the government to government and also people to people level. It castigated the small group in the opposition and the local and international media who have tried to create a rift between the Maldives and India. <br/><br/>Touching on the recent Free Trade agreement between the Maldives and China, Mr Yameen stated that it will have no impact on diplomatic or political relations with any other country as it is purely commercial in nature. <br/><br/>The Presidential statement came in the wake of displeasure expressed by the envoys of UK, Germany and US about the way three elected opposition party councilors of a local body were suspended for having a meeting with the Indian Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra this month. <br/> <br/>MEA Spokesman Raveesh Kumar had reacted cautiously saying that India and the Maldives have had long and close ties and hoped that the Maldives would stay committed to its "India-First" policy.<br/><br/><br/>