President Duterte Off To Russia To Strengthen Philippine-Russia Ties
President Rodrigo Duterte has left for Moscow to seek warmer
relations with Russia and address what he called the Philippines’
over-dependence on traditional partners.
“Russia must cease to be at the margins of Philippine
diplomacy. Overdependence on traditional partners has limited our room to
maneuver in a very dynamic international arena,” President Duterte said at the
Davao City airport.
“This is a strategic oversight that has led to many missed
opportunities for our country. I am determined to correct this,” he added.
A former colony of the United States, the Philippines has a
treaty alliance with the superpower since 1951.
The two countries’ relationship soured under the Duterte
administration after then US President Barack Obama expressed concern over
thousands of extrajudicial killings blamed on the war on his war on drugs.
President Duterte said that the trip was meant to boost
Philippines-Russia relations to its full potential.
“My visit underscores the independence of the Philippines’
foreign policy and the firm resolve to broaden the horizons of friendship and
cooperation with other nations,” President Duterte said.
“Russia is a country that we must work with. There are
opportunities for cooperation that cannot be ignored. With its geographic
footprint in the Asia-Pacific region and its strategic interests in the region,
a positive engagement is required to find areas of synergies in interests,” he
added.
President Duterte is scheduled to meet with Russian leaders
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday and with Putin on Thursday.
President Duterte and Putin will witness the signing of
pacts on defense cooperation as well as military and technical cooperation,
treaties on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition,
memorandum of agreement on cooperation in the field of security between
respective national security councils, as well as agreements on the peaceful
use of nuclear energy and culture.
President Duterte had also been talking about checking
Russia’s arsenal for anti-terror weapons.
President Duterte’s chartered Philippine Airlines flight
left Davao City at around 4 p.m., when he was scheduled to leave at 2:30 p.m.
His official delegation is composed of the following:
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano
National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar
Health Secretary. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial
Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo
Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar
Special Assistant to the President Secretary Christopher
Lawrence Go
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was not seen at the airport
for the departure.
Davao del Norte Antonio Floirendo Jr., a President Duterte
ally with whom Alvarez had a feud recently, was spotted at the predeparture
area.
The President’s partner, Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña and
their daughter Veronica “Kitty” Duterte will also join the trip.
President Duterte is expected to arrive in Moscow at 10:30
p.m. (3:30 a.m., Tuesday, Manila time), but his official activities will begin
on Wednesday including a conferment of honorary doctorate, a meeting with
Russian businessmen, and another meeting with the Filipino community.
President Duterte Off To Russia To Strengthen Philippine-Russia Ties
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May 23, 2017
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