Russia willing to help with nuclear energy, counter-terrorism
FRED P. LANGUIDO
MANILA — Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said Moscow is ready to lend the Philippines assistance in exploring the possibility of nuclear energy should it tender a request.
"I would like to emphasize that it's up to you Filipinos to decide whether you'll use sophisticated nuclear technology or not,” he said Thursday in an interview with CNN Philippines where he highlighted the safety and sophistication accompanying their Russian technology.
“[W]e are ready to discuss any option of cooperation, we are ready to offer our sophisticated nuclear technologies, we are ready to help you build nuclear power plants, including the floating nuclear barges," he added.
The ambassador gave assurance that nuclear facilities built by Moscow in some 30 countries are functioning with no reported incidents yet.
"By the way, [the] Chernobyl Power Station is located in Ukraine, not in Russia," he added.
Malacañang said the country's “intention to jointly explore the prospects of cooperation in the construction of nuclear power plants" was among the business deals signed during President Rodrigo Duterte's visit to Russia collectively worth $12.6 million.
In a related statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country is interested in "promoting industrial cooperation and joint projects in the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
But according to Malacañang, a nuclear energy deal between the two states is still “uncertain” due to the issue of constitutionality.
Even the president himself has admitted that he has apprehensions toward the project as it would be against the 1987 Constitution, which declares in Article II Section 8 that the country “adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.”
“The Constitution would not like it. That is why I have to talk to the Cabinet. I cannot affirm or deny that because that's part of the proposals,” the president told reporters upon his return last October 6.
In a statement dated Nov. 12, 2000 at the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Filipino diplomat Enrique Manalo said, “From this basic policy emanates the following Philippine goals: maintaining a stable and peaceful international and regional environment; promoting the creation of a non-nuclear weapons world, and ensuring the country's protection from the threat or use of weapons of mass destruction by other countries.”
Duterte in a 2017 phone call with US President Donald Trump expressed fear over the presence of North Korean warheads in the region.
“As long as those rockets and warheads are in the hands of Kim Jong Un, we will never be safe as there's no telling what will happen next,” the chief executive said.