- Title: Russian military officers visit Philippine shrine, show martial arts skills
- Date: 5th January 2017
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JANUARY 5, 2017) (REUTERS) CEREMONY IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 20th January 2017 15:32
- Keywords: Russia Phillippines goodwill visit Manila Duterte Igor Khovaev military officers
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- City: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015XT1NWN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Russian Navy officers visiting Manila, laid wreaths at the Philippines National Hero Monument on Thursday (January 5) and demonstrated their skills in self-defense martial arts at a nearby park.
Two Russian warships arrived in Manila on Thursday on a four-day visit as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tries to bolster ties with Moscow.
The visit comes less than a month after Duterte sent his foreign and defence ministers to Moscow to explore an arms deal after a U.S. senator said he will block the sale of 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippines due to concerns with the rising death toll in a war on drugs.
Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev and a group of Navy sailors visited the Jose Rizal National Hero Monument in Manila to lay wreaths and pay respects.
Later, the sailors performed combat stunts, which included techniques from the self-defense system Krav Maga and performed shooting exercise in the nearby park.
Khovaev said Duterte would soon pay an official visit to Russia.
"It will be a milestone in our bilateral relations. Of course now, the relevant preparations are in full swing and we have a strong belief that it will be a very successful visit which will give a powerful impetus," he said.
On Wednesday (January 4) Khovaev said Russia was ready to supply the Philippines with sophisticated weapons including aircraft and submarines and aims to become a close friend of the traditional U.S. ally as it diversifies its foreign ties.
Khovaev said Russia does not intend to replace the United States as a close ally of the Philippines but wants to be a "new reliable partner," offering weapons and military cooperation without any political conditions.
The ambassador said he hoped the visit of the Russian warships will foster friendship and goodwill between Manila and Moscow. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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