PH-Russia ties best in decades – envoy

RUSSIAN Ambassador Igor Khovaev said the Philippines’ traditional partners should not politicize the improved defense cooperation between Moscow and Manila.

Khovaev, who started his tour of duty as Russian ambassador to the Philippines in April 2015, said President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy helped boost ties between the two countries.

He admitted that he did not expect Russia to have closer ties with the Philippines when he arrived in Manila.

“I couldn’t imagine that two years later, our two countries would even discuss any possibility, any option of our defense cooperation,” he told TheManilaTimes.

“It became possible thanks to the independent foreign policy of President [Rodrigo] Duterte...it paved the way for our defense cooperation,” Khovaev said.

He pointed out that the bilateral ties between the two countries was high.

“It’s the highest level in the history of our bilateral relations. Thanks to our presidents - his excellency President [Vladimir] Putin and his excellency President Duterte.”

“This uniquely high political level of course requires from all of us dedication and efforts in order to substantially promote our bilateral cooperation in many other fields because no country big or small can isolate itself from the rest of the world. All of us needs each other and depend on each other,” Khovaev said.

He said that Russia “is ready to be a new reliable partner and good friend for the Philippines without inflicting any damage on your traditionally close ties with other countries.”

“But your traditional partners, I’m saying it again, have no right to be jealous, they have no right to interfere into Russia-Philippines relationship. They must respect the choice of Filipinos,” Khovaev pointed out.

“We are ready to compete with anyone and that’s why I want to say clearly, this cooperation should not be politicized and your traditional partners have no right to interfere into our bilateral defense cooperation,” he said.

Khovaev said Russia is ready to promote cooperation between the two governments in many other fields in terms of security and defense as well as joint military exercises and drills.

“So, any option should be on the table. We are open and want to start supplying only advanced arms and weapons to the Philippines. And we have really good prospects in this respect,” he said.

He said that Russian were more efficient and were not as expensive as those produced by other countries.