Date:25/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/25/stories/2007052506711500.htm

International

Maldives opens `virtual embassy'

B. Muralidhar Reddy

In Second Life, the online virtual world

— PHOTO: AFP

A GLOBAL FIRST?: The Maldives virtual embassy in this handout image released by the DiploFoundation in Geneva on Tuesday.

COLOMBO: The Maldives has opened a `virtual embassy' in Second Life, the online virtual world. It is possibly a global first.

The Maldivian Government said in a statement that such embassies representing Macedonia and the Philippines are on the cards. Sweden has announced similar plans too.

The Maldivian virtual embassy is located in the `Diplomatic Quarter of Diplomacy Island in Second Life', an online space designed to allow new avenues for diplomatic representation and negotiation, especially for small and developing countries that have limited diplomatic outreach in the "real" world.

Diplomacy Island is the brainchild of the Diplo Foundation, a non-profit organisation which works to assist developing countries participate meaningfully in international affairs.

Inauguration

The official inauguration took place simultaneously in the real world (in Geneva) and in the virtual world (Second Life). Participants in both "place" and "space" were able to watch the speeches, interact with one another, and explore the embassy and the rest of Diplomacy Island.

There were addresses by Srgjan Kerim, president-designate of the U.N. General Assembly (via Internet from New York); Abdulla Shahid, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Maldives; Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva; Ambassador Walter Fust, Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; Philip Rosedale, chief executive officer of Linden Labs and Founder of Second Life (speaking form Silicon Valley); and Jovan Kurbalija, Director of the Diplo Foundation.

Harnessing technology

Ahead of the ceremony, Maldivian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid emphasised how information technology, in particular the Internet, could be harnessed by small countries to participate meaningfully in international relations.