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 Singapore |  Armenia |
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Bilateral foreign relations exist between the two countries, Armenia and Singapore. Neither country has a resident ambassador. The Embassy of Armenia in Jakarta, Indonesia is accredited to Singapore. Singapore has no representation in Armenia.
The earliest mentions of Armenians in the Malay Peninsula date back to 1669. At that time, 87 Armenians lived in Singapore. The Sarkies Brothers Martin (1852–1912), Tigran (1861–1912), Aviet (1862–1923), and Arshak (1868–1931), who moved to Singapore from Persia at the end of the 19th century, became well known in hotel business during their lifetime. It was in Penang that 23-year-old Tigran began his hotel business. After a while, he teamed up with Martin and Avet, and together they founded the Eastern & Oriental Hotel at George Town, in 1884. In 1887, the brothers also founded the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. [1]
The current largest selling newspaper in Singapore The Straits Times , was founded by an Armenian named Catchick Moses. [2] Another hallmark of Singapore is the hybrid orchid Vanda Miss Joaquim , which was bred by a Singaporean-Armenian named Agnes Joaquim (Ashkhen Hovakimian). In 1981, Vanda Miss Joachim has been recognized as the national flower of Singapore because of its symbol of resilience, and the ability of its people to withstand difficult times to be reborn to a better life.[ citation needed ]
The first Armenian merchant was Aristakes Sarkies, who settled in Singapore in 1820. Other merchants followed suit. Soon, 113 Armenian enterprises were already registered here, among which were dominated by a firm selling antimony and medical preparations, a dealership selling jewelry and diamonds, a network of photo studios, watch salons, law offices, a mining company, insurance funds, and restaurants. [3]
During the Second World War, Singapore was occupied by the Japanese Empire. Many Armenians fled Singapore, and some died after being captured by the Japanese. After the end of the war, the Armenian community in Singapore shrank a lot, as most Armenians chose to move to Australia or New Zealand. [4]
In 1965, Singapore declared independence after being expelled from the Federation of Malaya. Singapore established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, which Armenia was part of as Armenian SSR. On August 23, 1990, Armenia declared independence from the Soviet Union, and Singapore and Armenia established diplomatic relations on July 1, 1992. [5]
In September 2009, Minister Mentor of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew visited Armenia, where he was received by President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. During his visit, Lee was awarded the Armenian state award of Order of Honor, for his contribution to the establishment and deepening of relations between the two countries. [6]
In 2012, Sargsyan, who was then President of Armenia, visited Singapore, becoming the first Armenian head of state to visit Singapore. During the visit, Sargsyan and Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong reaffirmed the friendly bilateral relations and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. They also exchanged views on developments in their respective regions. President of Singapore Tony Tan Keng Yam and PM Lee paid tribute to the contributions made by the Armenian community to Singapore's early development. The foreign ministers of the two countries signed the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Culture, which aims to foster greater intercultural cooperation and understanding between Armenia and Singapore, and an agreement on the terms of mutual waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports. [7]
In July 2017, an agreement was signed between Armenia and Singapore on establishing air traffic between the two countries. In March 2018, Armenia introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of Singapore. [8]
On 7 July 2019, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his wife arrived in Singapore on an official visit. They attended the unveiling of a monument to the orchid Vanda Miss Joaquim at the Armenian Street. During this visit, an agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation was signed between Armenia and Singapore, as well as MoUs on strengthening cooperation in tourism and education. In order to develop tourism, the prime ministers of the two countries agreed to hold Armenian Culture Day in Singapore. On September 28, 2019, Prime Minister Lee arrived in Armenia with his wife on an official visit, where he met with Pashinyan and Armenian President Armen Sarkissian. [9]
In 2014, Singapore exported approximately US$13,811,100 to Armenia, while Armenia exported US$2,787,500 to Singapore. Armenia mainly exported computers, telephones and other mechanical equipment to Singapore, while Singapore's exports to Armenia included machinery, equipment, food, instruments, etc. A Singapore technology company once planned to invest in Armenia. [10]
The Armenian Church is the oldest church in Singapore. It was the first building with electricity supply in Singapore, and was listed as a national monument by the Singaporean authorities in 1973. The Armenian Street, Singapore was named after the church. Many notable Armenians of Singapore were buried in the memorial garden of the Armenian Church.
In September 2014, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II visited Singapore. During his visit, he placed an Armenian Khachkar in front of the church, to commemorate the victims of the Armenian genocide. In 2019, it was announced that the Armenian community in Singapore will have its pastor. [11] [12]
The politics of Armenia take place in the framework of the parliamentary representative democratic republic of Armenia, whereby the president of Armenia is the head of state and the prime minister of Armenia the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the president and the Government. Legislative power is vested in both the Government and Parliament.
The Republican Party of Armenia is a national-conservative political party in Armenia led by the third president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan.
Serzh Azati Sargsyan is an Armenian politician who served as the third President of Armenia from 2008 to 2018, and twice as the Prime Minister of Armenia from 2007 to 2008 and again from 17 to 23 April 2018, when he was forced to resign in the 2018 Armenian revolution.
The Armenians in Singapore are a small community who had a significant presence in the early history of Singapore. They were among the earliest merchants to arrive in Singapore were from the British Raj when it was established as a trading port by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. They numbered around 100 individuals at their peak in the early 1920s, but most have moved on to other countries or become absorbed into the wider Singapore community. Despite their small number, they had an impact in the commercial life of early Singapore and members of the community co-founded the newspaper The Straits Times and built the Raffles Hotel. The Armenian Apostolic Church of St Gregory the Illuminator on Armenian Street, the second church to be built in Singapore, is today the oldest surviving one.
Armenia and the European Union have maintained positive relations over the years. Both parties are connected through the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was signed in 2017. Former Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandyan expressed confidence that the new partnership agreement would "open a new page" in EU–Armenia relations. Meanwhile, the former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini concluded in June 2019, that Armenia–EU relations are on an "excellent" level.
Ukrainian–Armenian relations are bilateral diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Armenia, which were established on 25 December 1991. Until then, both were member republics of the Soviet Union. Today, the countries are both members of the World Trade Organization, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations, and the Eastern Partnership initiative of the EU. Currently, Ukraine has the 5th largest Armenian community in the world. The Embassy of Armenia in Kyiv opened in 1993. The Embassy of Ukraine in Yerevan opened in 1996. The current Ambassador of Armenia to Ukraine is Andranik Manukyan. The current Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia is Ivan Khukhta.
Rita Aleksandri Sargsyan was the wife of Serzh Sargsyan, the President of Armenia from 2008 to 2018.
Nikol Vovayi Pashinyan is an Armenian politician serving as the prime minister of Armenia since 8 May 2018. A journalist by profession, Pashinyan founded his own newspaper in 1998, which was shut down a year later for libel. He was sentenced for one year for defamation against then Minister of National Security Serzh Sargsyan. He edited the newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak from 1999 to 2012. A supporter of Armenia's first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, he was highly critical of second president Robert Kocharyan, Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan, and their allies. Pashinyan was also critical of Armenia's close relations with Russia, and promoted establishing closer relations with Turkey instead. He led a minor opposition party in the 2007 parliamentary election, garnering 1.3% of the vote.
International relations between Armenia and India have been described as amicable. In 2022, it was reported that the two nations were exploring the possible of long-term military cooperation.
Bilateral diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkmenistan. Armenia has an embassy in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Yerevan.
The Armenian National Congress is an Armenian political party led by former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan and was formed in 2008. Its direct predecessor was the Pan-Armenian National Movement. It is often abbreviated as ՀԱԿ or HAK, in keeping with its Armenian spelling, but it is occasionally referred to as the ANC in English, including on its official website.
The future enlargement of the Eurasian Economic Union is theoretically open to any of the post-Soviet states and potentially any country of Europe or Asia. In order to accede, a state must fulfill certain economic and political requirements. Enlargement of the Eurasian Economic Union is also subject to the consent of all existing members and the candidate's adoption of existing EEU laws and implementing previous decisions made by the Eurasian Economic Commission. The present agenda of the enlargement of the Eurasian Economic Union is primarily focused on Tajikistan. Meanwhile, Moldova was granted Observer Status in April 2017, followed by Uzbekistan and Cuba in December 2020. The process of enlargement is referred to as Eurasian integration or Eurasianism. This term is also used to refer to the intensification of economic cooperation between Eurasian Economic Union member states.
Vigen Sargsyan is an Armenian politician who served as the Defence Minister of Armenia from October 2016 until May 2018 and as the Chief of Presidential Administration from October 2011 to October 2016.
The following lists events that occurred in 2018 in Armenia.
The 2018 Armenian Revolution, most commonly known in Armenia as #MerzhirSerzhin, was a series of anti-government protests in Armenia from April to May 2018 staged by various political and civil groups led by a member of the Armenian parliament — Nikol Pashinyan. Protests and marches took place initially in response to Serzh Sargsyan's third consecutive term as the most powerful figure in the government of Armenia, later broadening against the ruling Republican Party, who were in power since 1999. Pashinyan declared it a Velvet Revolution.
Ararat Samveli Mirzoyan is an Armenian politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. Before this, he served as President of the National Assembly of Armenia from January 2019 to August 2021.
The Security Council of Armenia is the highest decision-making defence and law enforcement body in the Republic of Armenia. The office of the Security Council is located on 24 Marshal Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan.
Armenian-Palestinian relations refers to relations between Armenia and the State of Palestine. Armenia supports Palestinian statehood. Armenia is an observer state of the Arab League in which Palestine is a full member. The former President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has stated that Armenia supported the Palestinian people's self determination in an interview with Al Mayadeen. President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas has also stated that he supported the expanding of Armenia and called Armenians a "great ally of Palestine".
Armenia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have maintained a formal relationship since 1992, when Armenia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Armenia officially established bilateral relations with NATO in 1994 when it became a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. In 2002, Armenia became an Associate Member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
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