Putin views Russian-Italian relations as privileged, special
MOSCOW. June 6 (Interfax) - Moscow is ready to develop relations with Rome as much as Rome itself is prepared for this, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Speaking in an interview for Il Corriere della Sera in the run-up to his visit to Italy, Putin said the two countries have developed "privileged" and "special" relations.
"The incumbent Prime Minister's visit to Russia sent a very important message showing that Italy is willing to develop these relations," Putin said.
"It is only natural that this does not go unnoticed either by the Government of the Russian Federation or by the public," he said.
"We are, of course, ready to reciprocate and go further in expanding our cooperation as long as our Italian partners are willing to do the same," Putin said.
The Russian leader said he hoped his upcoming visit to Milan would help in this respect.
Putin was asked with whom of the Italian prime ministers he has known, including Romano Prodi, Silvio Berlusconi, Massimo D'Alema and Matteo Renzi, he felt to understand each other best and how much a personal relationship, such as the one he had with Silvio Berlusconi, can contribute to good relations between countries.
"One of the people you have just mentioned once told me, 'You must be the only person (meaning I was the only person) who has a friendly relationship with both Berlusconi and Prodi'. I can tell you that it was not difficult for me, I still don't find it difficult," Putin replied.
He said his Italian partners have always been guided by the interests of Italy and the Italian people and believed that, in order to serve the interests of their country, "they must maintain friendly relations with Russia."
"We have always understood and felt that. This has been the key element underlying our good relations. I have always sensed a truly sincere interest in building interstate relations irrespective of the domestic political situation," he said.
Putin pointed out that trade between Russia and Italy has grown eleven-fold over the past years to nearly $49 billion from $4.2 billion, 400 Italian companies currently operate in Russia, Italy is the third largest buyer of Russian energy resources, and the two countries cooperate in the hi-tech sector.