After a meeting with Rome Mayor Francesco Rutelli at the Town Hall, President Putin departed for the Villa Borghese for the unveiling of an Alexander Pushkin monument on the 201st birth anniversary of the classic Russian poet.
Moscow will reciprocate with erecting a monument to Dante Alighieri.
As he was taking leave after the ceremony, Mr Putin thanked Mayor Rutelli for a hospitable reception, and said that he had accepted an invitation to revisit Rome.
See also
Visit to Italy and Vatican
June 3 − 6, 2000