Monday, July 8 2019 10:36

ArmInfo. Accompanied by his  spouse Anna Hakobyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on July 7  arrived in Singapore on an official visit at the invitation of Prime  Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong.

As the press service of the Prime Minister informs, Nikol Pashinyan  and Anna Hakobyan visited the Armenian St. Gregory the Illuminator  Church in Singapore, the oldest Christian institution in that country  (1835).

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia joined Senior Minister  of Industry and Trade of Singapore Co Poh Koon, as well as the  representatives of the Armenian communities of Singapore and  neighboring countries and regions - Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand,  Hong Kong and Australia, to attend the unveiling of a sculpture of  Vanda Miss Joaquim flowers at the First Botanic Garden on the newly  opened Armenian Street adjacent to St. Gregory the Illuminator  Church. The sculpture was contributed by the Armenian community on  the initiative of benefactor Khajag Margaryan.

Referred to as Vanda Miss Joachim, the orchid, which is also known as  Singaporean or Aloha Princess Orchid, is a hybrid species that has  become the national flower of Singapore - a state symbol. The  well-known type of orchid was named after Singapore-based Armenian  florist Agnes Joachim (Ashkhen Hovakimyan) who discovered the flower  in Yeghegnut.

Nikol Pashinyan, Anna Hakobyan next called at the St. Gregory the  Illuminator Church and toured the Armenian Heritage Museum.

The Prime Minister signed the Book of Honorable Guests. Later on he  met with the representatives of the Armenian communities from  Singapore and the neighboring countries. In commemoration of the  victims of the Armenian Genocide, the Premier laid a wreath at the  Armenian cross-stone at the Memory Garden. There are many Armenian  gravestones in the Garden.

Greeting those present, Nikol Pashinyan stated: "Today, through the  efforts of our compatriots, we eternized our fellow countrywoman's  contribution to Singapore. You may know that Singapore's national  symbol, the orchid named after our compatriot, was created by Ashkhen  Hovakimyan, known as Agnes Joachim in Singapore. This is a symbolic  event, which demonstrates our nation's creativity."

According to Nikol Pashinyan, in many parts of the world we will meet  situations where Armenians are behind the symbolic values created in  their countries.

"I am convinced that this is a full description of our people's  essence. I think the peculiarity of the modern time is that the  creative genius of the Armenians must ultimately triumph in Armenia  as well. The way we have to go should help us join those countries to  which our compatriots have made landmark contributions. Singapore is  one of the miracles of the 20th century, analysts and economists have  written volumes of stories to understand how it happened and  eventually created a country every corner of which has a meaning that  is a unique proof of development and human creative genius," Nikol  Pashinyan said, noting that his answer is one: the ability to  organize and encourage human life.

"I consider it to be the main symbol of today. Today, in fact, we  have put a record of the Armenian nation's talent and genius. I hope  the numerous examples of this kind should remind us everywhere that  we are talented and creative people that have contributed to the  development and welfare of many nations. We can do the same in the  Republic of Armenia and I believe that today's event is emblematic in  this respect," the Head of Government said.  The Prime Minster  noticed that there are dozens of Armenians who have left an indelible  mark in this country.

"Today millions of Armenians live in the Republic of Armenia;  millions of people will be living there, which means that they can  leave a similar indelible mark in Armenia and Artsakh," Nikol  Pashinian underscored and went on to note that we often failed to be  the masters of our history, and the time has come to recreate the  history of our own country.

"Let us create Armenia's modern history in tune with our ancestors'  dreams. The time has come for a free, happy and powerful Armenia. Our  worldwide trips inspire ever greater confidence that we will achieve  that goal. We came to prove what has already been proven. The  Armenians are talented people: long live Ashkhen Hovakimyan; long  live the Armenian people, long live Singapore, long live the New  World," Nikol Pashinyan concluded. He thanked the local authorities  for their thoughtfulness of the Armenian heritage.

Taking the appointment, Nikol Pashinyan and Anna Hakobyan walked down  Armenian Street in Singapore.