On 22 May, the Maldives became the first country in the world to open a Virtual Embassy in Second Life, the online virtual world.
The Maldives Virtual Embassy is, quite simply, a place in Second Life (see below) where visitors can come to find out about political, social or economic developments in the Maldives, where they can meet virtual Maldivian diplomats and ask questions on subjects such as visa requirements, where they can access information about holidays in the Maldives and trade and investment opportunities, where they can take a virtual tour around a real Maldives holiday resort – the Maldives Hilton – or where they can simply relax, listen to Maldivian music and meet friends. The Maldives Virtual Embassy is located in the Diplomatic Quarter of Diplomacy Island (in Second Life), an on-line 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.
The Maldives Virtual Embassy was constructed with the generous and invaluable support of the Diplo Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Of course, the best way to understand and explore the new Maldives Virtual Embassy – as well as the soon-to-be-finished Virtual Embassies of Malta, the Philippines, and Macedonia - is to go and see it for yourself.
The Maldives Government looks forward to meeting you there.
How can I visit the Virtual Embassy?
The Maldives Virtual Embassy can be found on Diplomacy Island in Second Life at the following coordinates: 160/147/26.
Already a resident of Second Life? Click here to be teleported to the Maldives Virtual Embassy.
Not a resident of Second Life? Follow these instructions:
Step #1:
Download Second Life software from: here.
Step #2:
Install it and run it.
Step #3:
Open a new account on Second Life and define the appearance of your avatar (character).
Step #4:
Click Map button and search “Diplomacy Island” then go there by teleporting your avatar (use teleport button). The shortcut is here.
The Launch of the Virtual Embassy
The Maldives Virtual Embassy was officially launched on 22 May 2007 at an inauguration ceremony that took place simultaneously in the real world (Geneva) and in the virtual world (Second Life), with participants in both “place” and “space” able to watch the speeches, interact with each other, and explore the Maldives Embassy and the rest of Diplomacy Island.
The ceremony included addresses by Dr. Srgjan Kerim, President Designate of the UN General Assembly (speaking via the internet from New York), Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Mr. Abdulla Shahid, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Mr. Ambassador Walter Fust, Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Mr. Philip Rosedale, CEO of Linden Labs and Founder of Second Life (speaking form Silicon Valley), and Dr. Jovan Kurbalija, Director of Diplo Foundation.
Please find below a selection of documents from the event:
Official Press Release “Maldives Unveils World’s First Virtual Embassy”
Speech by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid
Speech by the UN Under-Secretary General, Sergei Ordzhonikidze