3 Jun 2013 10:31

Russia's relations with Italy evolve into strategic partnership - Putin

MOSCOW. June 3 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin has congratulated his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano on Italy's national holiday - Republic Day, the Kremlin press service has reported.

Putin praised fast-growing Russian-Italian relations in a message of greetings, saying that they have risen to a level of strategic partnership over the past few years, as well as constructive political dialogue between the two countries, the implementation of major economic projects and broadening cultural and humanitarian projects, the press service said.

Putin also highly appraised Russian-Italian cooperation in the international arena, as a factor of stability in Europe and in the world as a whole, the Kremlin press service said.