Latest news with #VivianBalakrishnan
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Hard times reveal true friends': Singapore thanks Malaysia for evacuating citizen from troubled Iran
SINGAPORE, June 24 — Malaysia's assistance in evacuating a Singaporean from Iran not only reinforces the close and enduring relationship between the two countries, but also serves as a testament to Asean solidarity, said Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. In a letter to his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Balakrishnan said the support is also a real-life demonstration of the importance of the Asean Guidelines on Consular Assistance for Asean Member States to help one another's citizens. 'Hard times reveal true friends. We sincerely appreciate your government's readiness to extend assistance in times of crisis,' he wrote in the letter. A copy of the letter was shared by Balakrishnan on his Facebook page on Monday, where he also stated that he was grateful to the governments of Malaysia and Oman for their invaluable support in safely evacuating Singaporeans from Iran. In the letter, he noted that the swift and professional action taken by Wisma Putra Consular Division and the Malaysian embassies in Tehran and Ashgabat allowed Singapore to operationalise an evacuation plan under difficult circumstances. 'Their prompt assistance, particularly securing the necessary accommodation, transportation, and entry permits into Turkmenistan, was crucial in ensuring the safety of our citizens,' he added. Meanwhile, Balakrishnan also wrote a separate letter to Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi to express his gratitude for Oman's prompt and effective assistance. He said Singapore remains deeply concerned about the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and that various mediation efforts, including those by Al-Busaidi, are crucial for de-escalation. Earlier, the Singapore government expressed its deepest appreciation and gratitude to the governments of Malaysia and Oman for facilitating the safe return of its citizens from Iran. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry said that a Singaporean was evacuated from Iran to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, with a group of Malaysians and other nationals, with the assistance of the Malaysian government, while a family of three Singaporeans was evacuated from Tehran to Muscat, Oman with the help of the Omani government. Singapore has no diplomatic mission in Iran. — Bernama
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Singapore thanks Malaysia for help in safe return of citizen from Iran
KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore has expressed its appreciation to the Malaysian government for facilitating the safe return of one of its citizens from Iran. In an official letter to Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan praised the swift and professional assistance provided by Wisma Putra and the Malaysian embassies in Tehran and Ashgabat. He said their efforts, which included arranging accommodation, transport, and safe passage through Turkmenistan, were instrumental in ensuring a successful evacuation. "The swift and professional support provided by the Wisma Putra Consular Division and the Malaysian embassies in Tehran and Ashgabat allowed us to operationalise an evacuation plan under difficult circumstances. "Their prompt assistance, particularly in securing the necessary accommodation, transportation, and entry permits into Turkmenistan, was crucial in ensuring the safety of our citizens," the letter read. He added that Malaysia's readiness to respond in a time of crisis reflected the enduring and trusted relationship between the two nations, stating that "hard times reveal true friends." "We sincerely appreciate your government's readiness to extend assistance in times of crisis. "This is also a testament to Asean solidarity and a real-life demonstration of the importance of the Asean Guidelines on Consular Assistance for Asean Member States to help one another's citizens." Balakrishnan said the Singaporean citizen was evacuated with a group of Malaysians and other nationals from Iran to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, with the assistance of the Malaysian government. Meanwhile, a family of three Singaporeans was evacuated from Tehran, Iran, to Muscat, Oman, with the help of the Omani government, alongside a group of Omani citizens and other foreign nationals. US President Donald Trump said Monday on social media that Israel and Iran have agreed to a 'complete and total ceasefire' to be phased in over 24 hours. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ceasefire would bring an 'Official END' to the war, a major change in the hostilities that follows a US strike over the weekend on three Iranian nuclear sites. Over a week of tit-for tat missile launches have killed hundreds in Iran and two dozen in Israel.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Malaysia's evacuation aid shows ASEAN solidarity, says SG FM
JOHOR BAHRU: Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan has commended Malaysia for its crucial role in evacuating a Singaporean national from Iran, calling it a testament to ASEAN solidarity. In a letter to Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Balakrishnan emphasized the significance of regional cooperation during crises. 'Hard times reveal true friends,' Balakrishnan wrote, expressing gratitude for Malaysia's swift consular support. The assistance, facilitated by Wisma Putra and Malaysian embassies in Tehran and Ashgabat, ensured safe passage for the Singaporean alongside Malaysian evacuees. Singapore lacks a diplomatic mission in Iran, making Malaysia's intervention vital. The evacuation involved securing transport, accommodation, and Turkmenistan entry permits under challenging conditions. Balakrishnan also thanked Oman for aiding a separate Singaporean family's evacuation to Muscat. The incident underscores the practical value of the ASEAN Guidelines on Consular Assistance, which promote mutual aid among member states. Balakrishnan noted Oman's mediation efforts amid Middle East tensions, stressing the need for de-escalation.
CNA
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Commemorative reception held in Paris to celebrate 60 years of Singapore-France relations
A special reception was held in Paris to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and France. Hosted by Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, it featured well-known French and Singaporean songs, as well as a celebration of bilateral ties. Ross Cullen reports.
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
S'pore seeks to play constructive role in global efforts on ocean-related issues: Vivian
Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan delivering Singapore's national statement at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, on June 10. PHOTO: MFA NICE, France – Singapore is a small island state, and the oceans and seas are 'inextricably tied' to the nation's survival and well-being, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on June 13. 'That is why we have always sought to play a constructive role in global efforts on oceans-related issues,' he said in an e-mailed statement to The Straits Times on the final day of the United Nations Ocean Conference. The event in Port Lympia in Nice, France, is held from June 9 to 13. 'The oceans enable maritime trade, food and energy security, and support livelihoods,' said Dr Balakrishnan. 'These are vital to Singapore as a country with trade about three times our GDP and one which depends on imports for our energy and food resources.' Maritime transport moves more than 80 per cent of goods traded worldwide. Other than being a source of seafood and recreation, the ocean also generates 50 per cent of the oxygen people need, absorbs 25 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions, and captures 90 per cent of the excess heat generated by these emissions. As a small low-lying island with no buffer, Singapore is also highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change on the oceans such as sea-level rise, coastal degradation or marine pollution, he added. The minister said Singapore has been participating actively at the UN Ocean Conferences. Singapore served as one of the vice-presidents of the conference. Dr Balakrishnan had also chaired a plenary session at the event. This year's summit, which gathers representatives from 193 countries, is in its third iteration . Its aim is for countries to adopt an 'action-oriented and inter-governmentally agreed declaration', dubbed the Nice Ocean Action Plan, according to the United Nations. Various issues were discussed at the conference and its side events, including how to better finance marine conservation, such as through new financing instruments like coral reef bonds, and the importance of developing countries being given assistance to build capabilities to study their marine environments. Previous editions of the UN Ocean Conferences were held in 2017 and 2022. Korea will host the fourth one in 2028. Dr Balakrishnan said the summit is an important platform where countries mobilise action for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources. 'This includes reaffirming the international community's commitment to uphold the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos),' he said. Unclos sets out the legal framework for all activities carried out in the oceans and seas. In 2023, Singapore helped to broker an agreement under Unclos on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity outside national jurisdictions. Among other things, the treaty paves the way for marine protected areas to be established in waters outside national jurisdictions, which cover over two-thirds of the ocean. The High Seas Treaty, officially called the Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, will enter into force after 60 countries ratify it. Singapore ratified the agreement in September 2024 – one of 51 countries to have done so, so far. Dr Balakrishnan said the summit helps to advance collective efforts to protect the oceans, including getting more countries to ratify the BBNJ Agreement. ST checks showed that almost 20 countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam, had ratified the agreement over the course of the conference. Countries are also urged to make voluntary commitments on ways to ensure the health and resilience of the ocean during the summit. In his delivery of Singapore's national statement, Dr Balakrishnan had said Singapore would be renewing 15 of the past voluntary commitments it made to support ocean health, and undertaking 12 new ones. New commitments include efforts to restore coral reefs and seagrass meadows in the Republic. Dr Balakrishnan also said that as the protection of our global commons in the oceans requires collective efforts, Singapore is also committed to providing capacity building assistance to developing countries. Under the Singapore Cooperation Programme's Sustainability Action Package, Singapore has conducted over 60 courses for more than 1,600 officials covering issues from rising sea levels to the law of the sea. Audrey Tan is an assistant news editor overseeing sustainability coverage. She has reported on the environment for more than a decade and hosts the Green Pulse podcast series. Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
