Putin second leader to pull out of top Apec meeting

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Russian president Vladimir Putin will not attend the Apec Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby this month, Apec Minister Justin Tkatchenko said yesterday.
He becomes the second leader who will not be attending after US President Donald Trump earlier said he would not be in Port Moresby for the meeting.
Apec chief executive Chris Hawkins said the US and Russian presidents not attending an Apec summit was not a new thing.
Said Tkatchenko yesterday: “I’m not denying at all that I’m very disappointed for President Trump for not attending the summit.
“All the preparation and planning was to host him.
“We will still have the Vice-President Mike Pence and his wife.
“Pence and his wife will be here on Trump’s behalf.
“For Russia, we are happy to have the Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to come and will arrive here on Nov 16.
“He was a former Russian president and a very intelligent man. We are looking forward for him to speak.
“The Russian prime minister is more in charge of the Russian economy while the president is more focused on politics side.”
Hawkins said: “I have been to two Apec summits where the presidents did not attend, and the vice-president or the state secretary attended.
“I think only President George Bush had attended all the Apec summits during his term in office.
Likewise, the Russian presidents don’t always attend Apec, and the prime minister attends on his behalf.”
Tkatchenko said Chinese President Xi Jinping would arrive on Nov 13. “The other 21 world leaders will arrive prior to the event and they will all stay in Port Moresby,” he said.
“The wives of these leaders will be with our prime minister’s wife Linda O’Neill and they will visit the National Museum and other interesting places in the city. The three P&O cruise liners will be coming in on Nov 13.”
Tkatchenko said that security for the 21 leaders was “fully covered and are more than ready to serve the leaders. Australian, New Zealand and the US governments have been supporting us in working closely with the PNG Defence Force and the Police Force to ensure that safety on air, land and sea is totally covered for all leaders’ security,” he said. They will be safe and sound in Port Moresby”.
“They will be assured the highest level of security that they have ever had. We will ensure as well that the leaders are comfortable while they are here,” he said.
“We will ensure they experience our traditional culture for them to have a wonderful experience while they stay in Port Moresby.”