Russian ambassador ‘surprised’ at media coverage of warship visit

By: Frances Mangosing - 8 years ago

Russian ambassador to Manila Igor Khovaev holds a press conference aboard Admiral Tributs on Wednesday at South Harbor.

Russian Ambassador to Manila Igor Khovaev on Wednesday criticized the supposed limited coverage of the port call of Russian Navy vessels in Manila.

He said he was “surprised” that foreign media have more stories than local press about the five-day port visit of anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs and large sea tanker Boris Butoma.

READ: Russia eyes war games with US ally Philippines

“I have read all over the newspapers and I was very surprised because I found only a few publication of two information agencies, Associated Press and Reuters. No local publication, no local journalists wrote anything about these port calls. I was really surprised,” he said at a press conference with Manila-based reporters aboard the anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs.

However, a counter-check by INQUIRER.net found that several local broadsheets and TV networks featured the visit of the Russian Navy vessels on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Khovaev said it was confusing that local media were silent while foreign media agencies wrote more about the visit: “In my humble view, it looks a bit strange.”

He also complained of “dishonest journalism” by the Associated Press for supposedly misquoting one of its naval officers.

“This coverage by Associated Press is not really objective, not really unbiased. For example, they quoted our Rear Admiral for saying that you Filipinos can choose to cooperate with US or Russia. But that’s not true at all. So at least diplomatically speaking that this phrase was taken out of context,” he explained.

In the report of AP, Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov, deputy commander of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, supposedly said: “You can choose … to cooperate with United States of America or to cooperate with Russia.”

Mikhailov held a press briefing on Tuesday at South Harbor after the welcome ceremonies for the Russian Navy vessels. He spoke to the media through an interpreter.

“To be honest about it, sir, we were struggling to understand, we were really trying to clarify certain points of topics raised (during the press briefing yesterday). Let’s admit it there’s a language barrier. You write out of context, that’s important …We’d like to assure you there’s no intention to be biased,” one of the local media present told the ambassador.

Khovaev emphasized that the visit of Russian Navy vessels is “a message of partnership and friendship and nothing else.”

“I am asking you, Filipino partners and friends, don’t mislead the public. Please refrain from any misinterpretation,” he said. TVJ