“Russia and Italy are bound by strong historic ties of friendship and creative cooperation”, Mr Medvedev said in his message. “It is important that our partnership continues to develop fruitfully today. Looking to the future, I am sure that through our common efforts we will succeed in further enriching our wide-ranging bilateral ties with interesting new initiatives and mutually beneficial projects.
Russian-Italian foreign policy cooperation remains an important factor in international life. We are ready to build on our active contacts in the interests of resolving the problems the world faces today, finding effective responses to modern challenges and consolidating the climate of security and stability in Europe and throughout the world”.