MFA Press Statement: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, 21 September 2016

        Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan who is in New York for the 71^st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), delivered a statement at a High Level Side Event on the Death Penalty, setting out Singapore’s approach towards protecting our citizens, families, communities, and society within the context of an unwavering commitment to the rule of law, and calling on all parties to take a balanced and broader perspective and respect the different circumstances faced by different countries.  The full text of Minister Balakrishnan’s remarks is at https://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/media_centre/press_room/pr/2016/201609/press_20160922.html. 

        Minister Balakrishnan also hosted a Reception at the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations, to commemorate the 51^st Anniversary of Singapore’s admission to the UN as its 117^th member state on 21 September 1965, for members of the Forum of Small States (FOSS) and friends of FOSS.

        Minister Balakrishnan also had separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Mexico, Qatar, Bhutan, El Salvador, Albania, and Armenia, at the sidelines of the UNGA.  In his various meetings, Minister Balakrishnan and his counterparts reaffirmed our relations with the different countries, and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation by promoting trade, connectivity, and working together at the UN to advance the interests of small states. 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

22 SEPTEMBER 2016

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan meeting with Mexico's Minister of Foreign Affairs Claudia Ruiz-Massieu, at the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. [Photo: MFA]

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan meeting with Qatar's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, at the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. [Photo: MFA]

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan meeting with Bhutan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Lyonpo Damcho Dorji, at the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. [Photo: MFA]

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan meeting with El Salvador's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugo Martinez, at the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. [Photo: MFA]

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan meeting with Albania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ditmar Bushati, at the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. [Photo: MFA]

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan meeting with Armenia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, at the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. [Photo: MFA]