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Singapore, Armenia Sign Agreement On Cultural Cooperation

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  • Singapore, Armenia Sign Agreement On Cultural Cooperation

    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.

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