Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) — Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Marat Pavlov on Wednesday said Moscow and Manila continue to enjoy a high level of cooperation, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. still promotes a “balanced foreign policy.”
This was Pavlov’s response when asked on CNN Philippines’ Politics As Usual regarding his comment on the stance of Marcos on the Russia-Ukraine war.
In November last year, the Philippine leader said the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was “unacceptable,” urging both sides to pursue diplomatic solutions.
But at the same time we are continuing to cooperate [on] basic concept principles that the Philippines now is neutral to the crisis event,” the envoy said.
“Your president is the promoter of the balanced foreign policy as he has said, ‘We are friends to all, enemy to none,'” he added.
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It is the concentration of his foreign policy so I can confirm that for us it’s a good example on how to promote our cooperation,” Pavlov said.Pavlov was also asked for more details regarding his meeting in June last year with Marcos, but he only said the conversation was focused on how the cooperation between the Philippines and Russia would proceed.
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Pavlov said in June last year that he believed Marcos would continue his “independent policy” on the war — something that former National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos also expressed.
The envoy also said that Moscow is ready to continue its technical military cooperation with Manila.
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We are ready to continue our cooperation in many fields including the energy one,” he said, adding that there were some requests regarding liquefied natural gas and “nuclear peaceful cooperation.
