/ AFP PHOTO / Natalia KOLESNIKOVA
The foreign ministers of Russia and the Philippines said Monday, December 6 that the two countries are ready to develop bilateral cooperation in the military sphere, but clarified that they do not favor creating new military alliances in the Asia-Pacific Region.
In a joint conference with his Philippine counterpart Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said “as far as military alliances and military blocs are concerned, the position is that security issues in the Asia-Pacific region should be resolved on a universal basis.”
Lavrov also said that Russia wants all countries in the region to feel that there are agreements “reliably ensuring equal and undivided security for each of them.”
Philippine foreign secretary Yasay said the “Philippines is working toward boosting its military cooperation with Russia but, like Lavrov, the Philippines’ top diplomat said the issue of military alliances was not discussed, as this was not a workable idea.”
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is now in Moscow to hold meetings with representatives of the Russian Defense Ministry.
According to Lavrov, representatives from the Philippines defense department had also visited a number of Russian military shows and got acquainted with newest Russian weapons. (with a report from Xinhua)
