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PREPARE YOUR WISH LIST

Russia ready to assist PHL —envoy


Russia is ready to give any kind of assistance to the Philippines, as the two countries begin to know each other more and more, Russian envoy to Manila said Friday.

"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," Ambassador Igor Khovaev told GMA News' Rida Reyes in an exclusive interview. 

Khovaev said that they are aware of the "negative" image being portrayed of Russia.

"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," he added.

He said Russia is open to cooperation with the Philippines. "It includes any area, any field of possible cooperation."   

Duterte, Khovaev said, impressed Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev when they met in Laos last month.

"[Medvedev]  was deeply impressed by the personality of his Excellency President Rodrigo Duterte," the envoy said. 

Moreover, he said that Russia supports Duterte's fight against illegal drugs and criminality. 

Unlike some countries in the West and the international community, 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.

Likewise, he said that Russia is preparing for the visit of President Duterte. —LBG, GMA News

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