MFA Press Statement: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam at the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, 23 September 2014

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam, who is in New York for the 69^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), met the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov; the Foreign Minister of Malta, George W. Vella; the Prime Minister of Greenland, Aleqa Hammond; the Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, Lubomir Zaoralek; and the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin.

Minister Shanmugam and Minister Mammadyarov affirmed the good and cooperative relationship between Singapore and Azerbaijan, including in international fora.

Minister Shanmugam and Minister Vella exchanged views on the EU-Singapore FTA (EUSFTA), which would bring benefits to both Singapore and the EU, including Malta, when it is ratified by the EU.  The two Ministers also discussed the prospects for closer cooperation between ASEAN and the EU in the field of aviation.

In her meeting with Minister Shanmugam, Prime Minister Hammond spoke positively of Singapore’s contributions to Arctic affairs since 2013 when Singapore obtained Observership status in the Arctic Council.  Both Ministers also discussed how to strengthen relations between Singapore and Greenland.

Minister Shanmugam met Minister Zaoralek and exchanged views on how to deepen Singapore-Czech Republic economic linkages.  They also discussed how Singapore could be a gateway for the Czech Republic to the Southeast Asian region.

In Minister Shanmugam’s meeting with Minister Klimkin, the two Ministers discussed the prospects of expanding the relationship between Singapore and Ukraine through closer economic cooperation and greater people-to-people exchanges. Minister Klimkin also updated Minister Shanmugam on the latest developments in Ukraine.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
23 SEPTEMBER 2014