30 January 2017 — In line with the government’s thrust to enhance security cooperation with Russia, Philippine Ambassador to the Russian Federation Carlos D. Sorreta met with Lt. Gen. Alexander Avdeyko, Head of the Legal and Treaties Department of the Ministry of the Interior (MoI), in Moscow on January 24.

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Luningning G. Camoying and Ms. Oksana Zaitseva, Embassy Interpreter attended the meeting.

The two officials acknowledged the necessity of consolidating efforts in combatting the growing threat of transnational crimes, especially drug trafficking, terrorism, and human trafficking, among others.

“The Philippines recognizes the Russian Federation as an important partner in advancing its national security goals, including in its fight against transnational crimes and other public safety and public order issues,” Ambassador Sorreta said.

“For this reason we are keen on establishing institutional linkages between the Department of Interior and Local Government and other Philippine security agencies and the MoI in order to facilitate cooperation in this sphere,” the Ambassador added.

Lt.Gen. Avdeyko noted that Philippines-Russia relations are on the rise based on the high-level contacts at the head of state and ministerial levels, and the expanding tourism exchanges.

The MoI expressed its desire to contribute to this positive development. It is prepared to become a full-fledged partner in the fight against crime through capacity building activities.

These activities possibly include training and retraining of Philippine personnel in the MoI’s institutes and academies as well as cultural and sports exchanges, among others.

Ambassador Sorreta affirmed that bilateral cooperation is indeed on the rise and that both Presidents Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Vladimir Putin are determined to strengthen Philippine-Russia relations even more.

The two officials agreed to speed up work on a draft legal framework in time for the visit of President Duterte to Moscow slated in the first half of 2017. Both acknowledged the importance of security cooperation as a pillar of Philippine-Russia relations. END