SINGAPORE, ARMENIA SIGN AGREEMENT ON CULTURAL COOPERATION
Channel News Asia
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1191815/1/.html
March 28 2012
Singapore
SINGAPORE: Singapore and Armenia have signed an agreement on cultural
cooperation aimed at fostering greater inter-cultural understanding
between the two countries.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Singapore for a
three-day state visit.
The memorandum of understanding would allow both countries to
explore possibilities of partnership between artists and experts in
co-productions, presentations, research trips and new commissions.
The agreement was signed by Transport Minister and Acting Minister
for Foreign Affairs Lui Tuck Yew and Armenia's Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian. They also signed another agreement on the terms
of mutual waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and
official passports.
Mr Sargsyan began his day early at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
where an orchid was named after him.
Singapore's national flower Vanda Miss Joaquim was named after an
Armenian horticulturist resident in Singapore in 1893.
Mr Sargsyan then made a courtesy call on President Tony Tan Keng Yam
at the Istana before meeting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In the evening, President Tan hosted Mr Sargsyan to a state banquet.
President Tan said people-to-people ties between Singapore and Armenia
extend far back into history before the establishment of the two
countries' diplomatic ties.
Mr Tan said: "Armenians were among the first traders to arrive when
the British established a free port in Singapore in 1819. Apart from
trading, Armenians were also successful in our publishing, hospitality
and services sectors. The Straits Times, which was founded by Catchnick
Moses in 1846, is the largest-circulating newspaper in Singapore and
read by 1.4 million people daily. One of Singapore's most photographed
landmarks, the Raffles Hotel, was built and managed by the Sarkies
brothers in 1887.
"Our bilateral relationship is one that is premised on many
commonalities and complementarities. As small countries, Singapore
and Armenia share many common challenges and interests and there is
much that we can learn from each other. Therefore, I am happy that
our countries have stepped up cooperation through the signing of MOUs
on cultural cooperation and mutual waiver of visa requirements for
holders of diplomatic and official passports earlier today.
"I am hopeful that the historically strong people-to-people ties
between our two countries will continue to be sustained. There is
much scope for our two countries to leverage on the good relations we
already enjoy and work together for the mutual benefit of our peoples."
Mr Sargsyan returns to Armenia on March 29.
Channel News Asia
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1191815/1/.html
March 28 2012
Singapore
SINGAPORE: Singapore and Armenia have signed an agreement on cultural
cooperation aimed at fostering greater inter-cultural understanding
between the two countries.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Singapore for a
three-day state visit.
The memorandum of understanding would allow both countries to
explore possibilities of partnership between artists and experts in
co-productions, presentations, research trips and new commissions.
The agreement was signed by Transport Minister and Acting Minister
for Foreign Affairs Lui Tuck Yew and Armenia's Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian. They also signed another agreement on the terms
of mutual waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and
official passports.
Mr Sargsyan began his day early at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
where an orchid was named after him.
Singapore's national flower Vanda Miss Joaquim was named after an
Armenian horticulturist resident in Singapore in 1893.
Mr Sargsyan then made a courtesy call on President Tony Tan Keng Yam
at the Istana before meeting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In the evening, President Tan hosted Mr Sargsyan to a state banquet.
President Tan said people-to-people ties between Singapore and Armenia
extend far back into history before the establishment of the two
countries' diplomatic ties.
Mr Tan said: "Armenians were among the first traders to arrive when
the British established a free port in Singapore in 1819. Apart from
trading, Armenians were also successful in our publishing, hospitality
and services sectors. The Straits Times, which was founded by Catchnick
Moses in 1846, is the largest-circulating newspaper in Singapore and
read by 1.4 million people daily. One of Singapore's most photographed
landmarks, the Raffles Hotel, was built and managed by the Sarkies
brothers in 1887.
"Our bilateral relationship is one that is premised on many
commonalities and complementarities. As small countries, Singapore
and Armenia share many common challenges and interests and there is
much that we can learn from each other. Therefore, I am happy that
our countries have stepped up cooperation through the signing of MOUs
on cultural cooperation and mutual waiver of visa requirements for
holders of diplomatic and official passports earlier today.
"I am hopeful that the historically strong people-to-people ties
between our two countries will continue to be sustained. There is
much scope for our two countries to leverage on the good relations we
already enjoy and work together for the mutual benefit of our peoples."
Mr Sargsyan returns to Armenia on March 29.