The President and the Italian Foreign Minister discussed the fight against international terrorism and ways to settle regional conflicts, as well as the development of Russia-EU cooperation during the period when Italy will chair the EU governing bodies in the second half of 2003.
They focused on the prospects for expanding bilateral trade and economic and energy cooperation, in particular, in the Blue Stream project being implemented with Italy’s technical and financial assistance. Mr Putin expressed hope that other joint projects would be launched in the future.
President Putin and Foreign Minister Frattini also discussed details of the forthcoming visit of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to Russia in early February.
See also
Beginning of a Meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini
January 16, 2003