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Maldives Virtual Embassy

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.