Russian media briefed on future direction of PHL- Russia relations

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 22): Russian media briefed on future direction of PHL- Russia relations

Philippine Ambassador to Russia, Carlos D. Sorreta briefed Russian media practitioners on the future direction of Philippine-Russia relations.

A Department of Foreign Affairs statement released Tuesday said Nathan Hodge, Moscow Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Thomas Grove, reporter for WSJ interviewed the ambassador at the Philippine Embassy, as part of efforts of the Philippine Embassy in Moscow to engage key media players in Russia.

Sorreta delved into the decision of the Philippine Government to intensify relations with Russia, including possibly in the area of military technical cooperation.

He noted that the President has declared his intention to pursue an independent foreign policy.

“In an interdependent and interconnected world, this could mean less dependence on a single nation and more engagement with the rest of the world,” said the Ambassador.

“One of the important players in this world is Russia and there are many opportunities for mutually beneficial relations between us,” he added.

However, Sorreta said that “this does not mean cutting off bilateral ties with other countries, as the President himself has clarified.”

On Philippines-Russia military-technical cooperation, Ambassador Sorreta mentioned that in terms of defense products, Russia has almost everything other traditional partners can offer without political conditionalities and other strings attached.

Moreover, it provides technology transfer and is flexible on the issue of financing.

While no decision has been made yet on the purchase of Russian weapons, the two sides are laying the foundation for robust military-technical cooperation through exchange of visits and crafting of legal frameworks.

The Wall Street Journal is a business-focused international newspaper, the largest in the United States by circulation.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=942224