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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

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana

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

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II

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.

Source: Manila Bulletin
President Duterte Off To Russia To Strengthen Philippine-Russia Ties President Duterte Off To Russia To Strengthen Philippine-Russia Ties Reviewed by Yen on May 23, 2017 Rating: 5

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