Official website of the President of Russia

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President Vladimir Putin: Dear Mr Prime Minister,

Allow me once more, this time officially, to welcome you to the Kremlin. I hope that yesterday evening was not too exhausting for you. Today we have the opportunity to continue our talks, both one and one and in an enlarged format.

Relations between Russia and Italy are developing very positively, at fast rates, and have reached a good level. Unfortunately, the European Union commission has not yet formed. I hope that bilateral ties with the leading countries of Europe will help us to maintain the positive dynamic of relations with the European Union.

We are very happy to see you, a person who has often displayed sincere feelings of friendship towards our country, and with all our heart we wish you a warm welcome.

Silvio Berlusconi: Thank you very much, Mr President, for such kind hospitality. Thank you also for the special hospitality that was shown to me yesterday evening. I really did feel at home. We have established warm and trusting relations, which I hope will allow us to have better relations between our two countries.

I would say that relations between Italy and Russia are optimal. I do not see any way that relations could be more open, friendlier or warmer that those that have been established between our two countries.

Yesterday work also began on holding dialogue between our civil societies. Today I was also familiarised with the programme for developing a project, a programme of relations between the universities of Naples and Moscow.

As you know, today for the first time we will present the Joint award of the President of the Russian Federation and the Prime Minister of Italy to people who have done special services towards the development of Russian-Italian relations. I think that we really will be able to do some excellent work today, primarily concerning our bilateral relations on a topic that is very close to us. This is relations between the Russian Federation and the European Union. We will also discuss the joint war on terrorism, which dealt your country such a harsh blow.

Additionally, the Iraq problem will be discussed, and here I would like to note that the idea of holding an international conference on Iraq was first expressed by President Vladimir Putin during a discussion between us. And I think that we will also have the opportunity to talk about the important topic of reform of the United Nations and the UN Security Council.

And allow me to take this opportunity to express my compliments to you for organisations this wonderful exhibition that is currently being shown in Italy, an exhibition that does indeed show the ties that exist between Italy and Russia, including in the cultural sphere. I know that this exhibition will soon come here, to Russia. I wish it success, and can tell you a secret: it is wonderful, magnificent!

Mr Putin: Thank you.