Philippines' President says will not sever ties with U.S.October 22, 2016 - 11:24 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Saturday, October 22 he would not sever his nation's alliance with the United States, as he clarified his announcement that he planned to "separate," AFP said "It's not severance of ties. Severance is to cut diplomatic relations. I can not do that. Why? It's in the best interests of my country that I don't do that," Duterte told reporters in his hometown of Davao after returning from China. The firebrand leader signalled on Thursday during his four-day state visit to Beijing that he intended to end the Philippines' 70-year alliance with the United States in favour of China and Russia. "I announce my separation from the United States," Duterte told a group of Chinese businessmen. "America has lost. I've realigned myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to (President Vladimir) Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It's the only way." Until Duterte took office on June 30, the Philippines had been one of the United States' most important and loyal allies in Asia, and a key to President Barack Obama's "pivot" to the region. But since becoming president Duterte has done a dramatic foreign policy U-turn that has baffled Washington. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday that the United States would seek clarification from the Philippines about the "separation" remark. "It's not clear to us exactly what that means in all its ramifications," he said. Duterte on Saturday gave a series of comments to clarify those remarks. "Sever is to cut. Separate is just to chart another way of doing," he said. "What I'm really saying was separation of foreign policy, which in the past and until I became president, we always followed what the United States would give the cue." Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |