OREANDA-NEWS. Top-level Russian-Italian interstate consultations in expanded format took place in Trieste, Italy, under the chairmanship of Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Italy Enrico Letta, with members of both countries’ governments taking part.

The talks began with a meeting between the President of Russia and Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Enrico Letta. Consultations then continued in the presence of their respective delegations.

Following the interstate consultations, a package of cooperation agreements was signed in the presence of the President of Russia and the Prime Minister of Italy.

The documents deal with, among other things, cooperation in the fight against crime, in social and labour issues, in healthcare, regarding the protection and return of stolen cultural property, and in connection with the Year of Russian Tourism in Italy and the Year of Italian Tourism in Russia in 2013 and 2014.

Documents on cooperation in customs and banking sectors, in culture, on creating a joint venture and a Russian-Italian investment fund were also signed.

Several signed documents relate to cooperation during the international prospecting and extracting of hydrocarbons, regarding reciprocal oil deliveries, as well as the partnership between Skolkovo Development Fund and the [Italian] company ENI.

Vladimir Putin and Enrico Letta also made press statements and answered journalists’ questions.

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Press statement following Russian-Italian interstate consultations

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Prime Minister,

Before I summarise the results of the Russian-Italian intergovernmental consultations, let me say a few words about the first day of my visit. Yesterday I met with Pope Francis. We discussed the development of relations between Russia and the Vatican, and agreed to expand our contacts in the spheres of culture, science, education and healthcare.

Russia’s and the Vatican’s positions converge with regards to defending traditional Christian values, promoting interfaith and intercivilisational dialogue, and making moral considerations a bigger part of international relations.

During our talks we discussed the situation in the Middle East, and the current state of the protection of the rights and interests of the Christian population in the region. We also discussed the Syrian issue separately.

In Rome a similarly substantive discussion took place with the President of Italy, Mr Giorgio Napolitano. We exchanged opinions on key areas of Russian-Italian cooperation, cooperation between strategic partners. Along with this we discussed the prospects for humanitarian cooperation in particular detail.

We discussed the need to intensify bilateral exchanges in cultural spheres, and to increase the contacts between our citizens. We also talked about the simultaneous Years of Tourism dedicated to Russia and Italy, which will be held in 2014 in our two countries.

The discussions we had today in Trieste, first with Mr Letta in a restricted format, and then as part of a regular round of interstate consultations with heads of key ministries and departments, had a very full agenda. After the press conference we will go on to meet with Russian and Italian business leaders.

Economic cooperation issues are at the centre of our attention. Italy is Russia’s fourth largest trading partner, and bilateral trade is growing. This year, despite problems in the European and global economies, it will grow by 24 percent. I think that it will reach – and maybe even surpass – the USD 50 billion mark. Behind these figures there are jobs and continued economic activity.

Investment cooperation is developing. Over the past four years Russian investments in Italy have quadrupled, reaching half a billion dollars, and Italian investments in Russia grew to a billion. The memorandum we signed during the visit, between the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Italian Strategic Fund, provides new opportunities for expanding mutual investments. You just witnessed the signing of this document, which provides for about USD 1.4 billion.

Together with our Italian partners, we set ourselves the goal of moving on to full-scale industrial cooperation. We intend to further encourage business contacts, including between small and medium-sized businesses. This work is taking place within the Russian-Italian Economic Cooperation Council and the working group on industrial districts.

We exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation between Russia and the European Union, which Italy will chair in the second half of 2014.

In addition, we touched on a number of international issues, among them the Syrian crisis. Italy has made an important, substantial contribution to its resolution, including during discussions at the G20 summit in St Petersburg.

We also talked about the Iranian nuclear problem. I am confident that the [Geneva Accord], the decision [to freeze the] Iranian nuclear programme will have a beneficial effect on the safety and stability of the entire Middle East, while ensuring the security of all countries in that region, including Israel.

In general both parties expressed their interest in closer international cooperation. This is important, given that next year Russia will chair the G8, and Italy will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Mr Letta, and all our Italian colleagues and friends, for the very warm welcome and joint work. I share Mr Prime Minister’s views: our consultations were very successful, and we hope very much and are confident that it will act as an additional impetus for the development of our interstate relations.

Thank you very much for your attention, and to Trieste: a special thank you for your hospitality.