By: Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
Nine agreements were signed between the Philippines and Russia during the sidelines of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Pasay City following the bilateral meeting Monday between President Duterte and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in which they reaffirmed the close ties between the two countries.
POOLPHOTO.CAMILLE ANTE
According to Medvedev, the relationship between the Philippines and Russia must have reached another level, enabling them to still meet happily meet each other late in the evening after meeting with other world leaders.
Medvedev also commended Duterte for hosting the ASEAN Summit successfully and acknowledged how tiring it must be.
“To host such event is a difficult work and I know that today, you have had very lots of meetings with different heads of government, state and government delegations, that is difficult and quite tiring,” Medvedev told Duterte during their bilateral meeting.
“But the fact that we are meeting with you quite late at night points to a new level of our partnership, of our relations,” he added.
The Russian Prime Minister said both countries have opened a new chapter in their relations and assured Duterte that Russia is ready expand ties with the Philippines, especially in countering terrorism. “And definitely, we are ready to expand our ties in all the areas and dimensions, including politics and trade economic cooperation, cultural ties, as well as cooperation and interaction on quite sensitive things and spheres such as fight against terrorism and mutual technical cooperation and arms supplies,” Medvedev said.
“No doubt we will keep standing by your side, we’ll keep assisting you in this very important and sensitive theme and along this track of fight against terrorism in the course like bringing or restoring law and order,” he added.
Duterte thanked Medvedev for Russia’s assistance to the Philippines during the Marawi City crisis. “We are gratified by your presence so that also we can express our desire to thank you personally and the Russian people and government for helping us on a crucial moment during the war in Marawi,” he said.
“We were able to use the rifles and the arms that you gave us on time,” he added, noting that it was a Russian sniper model which neutralized one of the top three commanders of the Maute Group.
Duterte assured Medvedev that arrested Russian drug suspects Yuri Kirdyushkin and Anastasia Novopashina would get fair treatment in their cases.
“I would just like to say that we have a working functional justice system here and they will get a fair trial and that they will be detained in a comfortable house,” he said. “Their cases are still under investigation,” Duterte said.
“Whether true or not, we will find out but I will see to it that they are treated fairly and no additional stress on their person that will happen,” he added.
Kirdyushkin was arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency October last year after the Bureau of Customs discovered around 7.4 kilos of suspected powdered cocaine and 2.5 kilos of liquid cocaine inside his luggage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Kirdyushkin claimed that he did not know he was carrying illegal drugs as a friend only asked him to bring it to Manila.
Anastasia Novopashina was also arrested at NAIA after Customs officials found in her possession high-grade cocaine. Local officials, in coordination with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, had been monitoring her movements until she reached the Philippines.