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UPDATED: 06 JUNE 2009 |
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PGMA is back
to Manila Sunday with RP-Russia air pact signing
green light |
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ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
returns to the Philippines on Sunday (June 7), bringing home with her the
assurance of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that the air flight agreement
between the Philippines and Russia will be finally approved by Moscow’s
Ministry of Transportation, and relations between the two countries greatly
enhanced.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Russian leader made the commitment to
President Arroyo during their 45-minute bilateral meeting Friday on the
sidelines of the 13th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum here.
He described Medvedev’s assurance as a “major, major” accomplishment of
President Arroyo’s three-day official visit to attend the 13th St.
Petersburg International Economic Forum. The Arroyo administration has been
pushing for Russia’s approval of the air pact as an vital component of its
tourism program.
Remonde said the Russia leader told President that the delay in the approval
of the agreement was a “mere bureaucratic matter,” and that he would
instruct the Ministry of Transportation to act immediately on the pending
accord.
“The direct flight between the Philippines and Russia is a go,” Remonde
declared after the Arroyo-Medvenev meeting.
He explained that before proceeding to St. Petersburg, President Arroyo had
met with tourism officials in Moscow who told that the absence of a direct
flight between the Philippines and Russia was a major setback to the two
countries’ tourism programs.
(full
story)
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