Russia’s ambassador to the Philippines, Igor Khovaev said Moscow is ready to provide assistance and fully cooperate with President Rodrigo Duterte, after he announced the ‘separation’ of the Philippines from the US and said he would “go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world – China, Philippines and Russia.”
“Please formulate your wish list. What kind of assistance do you expect from Russia and we will be ready to sit down with you and discuss what can and should be done,” addressing Duterte through GMA News.
He confirmed the Russian government is willing to provide diplomatic assistance to the Philippines in “any area, any field of possible cooperation.”
He went on to state that the “true Russia” is much different than the ‘negative’ image portrayed in Hollywood movies.
“A true Russia is much, much different from what is being portrayed by Hollywood movies. [The Philippines and Russia] deserve to know each other much, much better. It’s time to discover.”
Moreover, he said that President Rodrigo Duterte impressed Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during a productive meeting in Laos last month, and that Moscow supports Duterte’s fight against illegal drugs and criminality.
Unlike some countries in the West and the international community, the ambassador assured the news agency that Russia respects the domestic affairs of the Philippines.
“We don’t interfere with the domestic affairs of a sovereign state. It is a fundamental principle of our foreign policy,” he said.
Ambassdor Khovaev also added that Russia is preparing for President Duterte’s visit.
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