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Mr Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen,

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I want to start by noting our increasingly frequent meetings with our 

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Italian partners and friends.

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Last month, we received President Sergio Mattarella in Moscow,

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and today, we had substantive and productive talks with 

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Italian Prime Minister Mr Gentiloni.

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Italy has traditionally been one of Russia’s major partners and our 

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countries seek to build constructive relations based on equality 

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and respect for each other’s interests.

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We discussed the whole range of cooperation areas during the talks 

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today, and outlined concrete plans for further development.

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We gave priority attention to promising areas for economic development.

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Italy is one of Russia’s major trade partners.

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Our bilateral trade came to around $20 billion last year.

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Of course, as a result of the circumstances we know,

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this figure is considerably lower than the peak figure we had in 2013,

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but we do have grounds for hope because we saw bilateral trade growth 

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of close to 30 percent at the start of this year.

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It is very good to see that reciprocal investment remains 

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at a high level. Italian investment in the Russian economy comes 

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to more than $1 billion, and Russian investment in Italy 

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comes to $2.4 billion.

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I am sure that the implementation of the roadmap adopted last year 

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on trade and investment cooperation will contribute to deepening 

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business ties, as will the recent Italian government decision to select 

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Russia as a target country for stepping up economic cooperation.

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We invited Italian businesspeople to take part in the St Petersburg 

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International Economic Forum that opens on June 1.

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I remind you that last year, we signed around 20 inter-corporate 

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agreements for a total of $1.3 billion with Italy alone.

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Of course, we discussed promising cooperation areas,

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including energy. Russia is Italy’s biggest natural gas supplier,

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covering 43 percent of its gas demand.

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We have agreed to continue developing our effective 

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cooperation in this area.

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We hope that Italian companies will take part in promising work 

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to produce hydrocarbons and in projects to diversify 

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Russian energy supplies to Europe.

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I am referring here to the construction of new mainline gas pipelines,

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in particular, along the southern route.

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In this respect, I note the cooperation agreement just 

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signed between Rosneft and ENI.

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We work together with good results in industry, science,

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and high-tech sectors.

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I must mention too our productive cooperation in manned space flights.

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In two months’ time, an international team will fly 

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to the International Space Station,

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with an Italian citizen among its members, Paolo Nespoli,

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as astronaut from the European Space Agency.

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This will be his second flight to the station.

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Traditionally close ties in culture and tourism are one 

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of the distinguishing features of our bilateral cooperation.

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Italy is a very popular destination among Russian tourists.

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In 2016, 710,000 people from Russia visited Italy.

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We expect to see growing numbers of Italians visiting Russia too.

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Specialised tourism offices have opened in Rome and Milan,

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and this has already helped to boost the number of Italian 

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tourists coming to Russia.

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Our two countries’ museums are expanding their contacts.

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The Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow is currently holding an exhibition 

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of Italian artist Giorgio de Chirico, and in June,

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the State Hermitage in St Petersburg will hold a unique exhibition 

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of historic artefacts from the collection of the Egyptian 

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Museum in Turin. In autumn, Days of Moscow will take place in Milan,

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Genoa, and Venice, and next year,

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the Russian Seasons will take place in Italy.

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We discussed current issues on the international and regional agendas,

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of course, and looked at the crisis situations in Syria, Libya,

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Ukraine, and on the Korean Peninsula.

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Russia and Italy support joint efforts by the international community 

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to act against today’s greatest threat – international terrorism.

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Overall, we agreed to continue deepening our foreign policy 

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coordination. This is particularly relevant now,

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with Italy holding a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council,

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and set to preside in the OSCE in 2018.

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We discussed Russia’s relations with the European Union.

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It is not at all possible to call them normal right now,

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and we must try to avoid excessive politicisation and restore 

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a constructive spirit for cooperation.

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I am sure that greater economic cooperation between Russia and European 

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countries and direct ties between the Eurasian Economic Union 

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and the EU would help to strengthen trust across the entire 

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Eurasian region.

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I want to conclude by thanking Mr Gentiloni and all of our Italian 

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friends and colleagues for this substantive and useful exchange 

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of views. I am sure that the agreements we reached today will 

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contribute to further all-round development of our bilateral ties.

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Thank you for your attention.

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I thank President Putin for the warm welcome in Sochi and our important 

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talks, which will continue during our working lunch.

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Bilateral relations are, of course,

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at the centre of our talks.

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We have always tried to maintain –

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even in the most difficult times,

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which may already be a thing of the past –

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the trust of Italian companies in the Russian market 

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and the Russian business community.

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Our companies have always had trust in that country.

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I think it was the right choice,

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because the recent developments prove that following the difficult 

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times – which were due to a variety of reasons –

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that the Italian and the Russian economies went through,

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today we can see positive signs of resumed trade exchanges 

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between our countries.

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Approximately 600 Italian companies are operating in Russia.

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The volume of trade remains an important issue, and,

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as the President mentioned, we saw new signs of it being 

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restored in recent months.

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However, the data looks fairly positive against the background 

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of Italy’s overall foreign trade.

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In terms of exports [to Russia],

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the Italian economy has reached a level unseen in the past seven years.

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Our companies prove that there is renewed interest in the Russian 

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market (Astaldi, ENI, Tecnimont, and others)

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. This is evidenced by the agreements that we signed today.

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Prime Minister Renzi attended the St Petersburg 

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International Economic Forum last year.

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This year, too, the forum remains an important event for our system.

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It will be attended by general directors of major Italian companies 

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and an important Italian government delegation.

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Keeping these economic relations in mind,

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I would like to mention another important and symbolic thing,

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which is our gratitude to Rosneft for giving the Marche region 5 

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million [euros] to rebuild a hospital after last year's earthquake.

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We touched upon key international issues in our conversations as well.

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From my perspective, as the G7 chairman,

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I find it very important to understand President Putin’s 

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viewpoint on these issues.

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I think that there are opportunities for cooperation in fighting 

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terrorism, and responding to regional crises.

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I'm talking about Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan,

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where Italy and Russia (and the international community in general)

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can and should cooperate.

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There are common threats, and I think that we should join efforts as we 

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try to respond to them.

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Some threats are quite serious, such as, primarily,

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Libya. I think that we are doing well in this arena as well.

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Finally, in recent years, Italy has been supporting an open dialogue 

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between Russia and the European Union.

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Of course, this strategic partnership should not be suspended because 

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of the crisis involving Ukraine.

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I think that all the paths for working within this partnership,

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including the partnership with the Eurasian Economic Union,

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should remain open. Therefore, I once again thank President 

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Putin for the warm welcome in Sochi.

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Mr Gentiloni, you mentioned Libya.

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Do you really think that Moscow can nudge General Haftar into 

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reconciliation with the Government of National Accord in Tripoli?

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And a question for President Putin: Do you believe it is possible 

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to establish a united government in Tripoli? Do you believe national 

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reconciliation is possible? I see Mr Lavrov is here, and I want to ask,

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did he brief you on his recent meeting with President Trump? Also,

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how do you assess Trump’s action so far as US president?

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A united Libya is the common goal.

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I think this is in the interests of both Italy and Russia.

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We both support UN Resolution 2259,

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which welcomes the creation of the Government of National Accord.

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We realise, however, that the government should be broadened and we are 

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working to ensure that this expansion will be as inclusive as possible 

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and will include important political players such 

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as General Haftar’s movement.

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I believe that the international community can and should make joint 

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efforts in this direction because a united Libya will boost stability 

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in the region, while a divided Libya would be dangerous for everyone.

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I think that there are hopes for civil peace in Libya.

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The country has great importance in the region and is important 

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for Europe too as it has become a transit point for many refugees,

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especially from Africa, trying to cross to Europe.

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This situation cannot be put down to whatever serious events,

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whether in North Africa, Iraq, or in Syria.

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But on May 2, as we know, the first meeting between the various 

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political forces, General Haftar and the government, took place.

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We hope greatly that the agreements reached at this meeting will go 

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ahead and that this will open the road towards swift restoration 

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of civil peace and stability in Libya.

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For our part, we will do all we can to facilitate this process,

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together with our Italian friends and with all those who seek 

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to normalise the situation, including other countries 

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in the region, particularly Egypt.

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As for the results of Foreign Minister Lavrov’s visit to the United 

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States and his meeting with President Trump,

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we assess the results highly.

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This was the first visit, a return visit by our foreign minister,

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after we received US Secretary of State Tillerson here in Moscow.

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This is normal and natural international practice.

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At the same time, however, we see the growing political schizophrenia 

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in the United States.

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There is no other way I can explain the accusations against the current 

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president that he handed whichever secrets over to Lavrov.

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Incidentally, I spoke with him [Lavrov] today about this matter,

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and I will have to give him a ticking off for not sharing 

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these secrets with me.

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Not with me, nor with our intelligence officials.

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This was really not good of him at all.

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What’s more, if the US administration has no objection,

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we are ready to provide a transcript of Lavrov’s conversation with 

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Trump to the US Senate and Congress.

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Of course, we would do this only if the American 

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administration so desires.

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Initially, when we watched the first developments in this internal 

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political struggle, we were amused.

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But now, the spectacle is becoming quite simply sad,

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and it is causing us concern, because it is hard to imagine just how 

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far people willing to think up this kind of nonsense 

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and absurdity might go.

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All of this is ultimately about fanning anti-Russian sentiment.

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This does not surprise me.

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They are using anti-Russian slogans to destabilize the internal 

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political situation in the United States,

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but they do not realise that they are harming their own country.

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If this is the case, then they are quite simply stupid.

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If they do understand what they are doing,

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then they are dangerous and unscrupulous people.

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In any event, this is the United States’ own affair and we 

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have no intention of getting involved.

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As for assessments of President Trump’s actions so far in office,

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this too is not our affair.

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It is for the American people, American voters,

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to give their assessment.

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Of course, this will be possible only once he is fully allowed to work.

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Mr Prime Minister, let me move from relations with the United States 

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to a broader international topic.

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In two weeks, the G7 Summit will be held under your chairmanship.

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I would like to know what message you will convey to the G7 leaders 

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after talks with Russia.

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And, Mr President, I would like to know what message would 

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you like to convey to the G7 leaders?

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The message will be rather simple, namely,

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that Russia is a very important player in the international arena and,

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in particular, in the Mediterranean,

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which is of particular importance for Italy,

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but also in many other regions.

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That’s why when discussing various world crises,

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the G7 leaders at this important meeting –

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important because most of the leaders will be taking part in it 

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for the first time, so it is also unusual in this respect –

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should take into account the views and positions of Russia,

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they should be part of our discussion.

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We know that there are things that bring us together and things that 

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divide us, but we also know that we have common interests –

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international stability, the fight against terrorism 

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and the settlement of a number of crises.

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We just talked about Libya, and we can extend this conversation 

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to Syria and even to the risks emanating from the Korean peninsula.

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So, I think it is the duty of those chairing the G7 this year to keep 

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an important player like Russia in mind.

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As for my message that I conveyed to the Prime Minister, it is secret,

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I cannot talk about it, it is confidential information.

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Going back to the G7, even though you said that your message is secret.

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But the question I am addressing to both leaders is this: Is there 

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evidence or the expectation that the G7 will again become 

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the G8 in the foreseeable future?

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And one more question for Mr Gentiloni,

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if I may. The discussion of the electoral law in Italy is again 

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at an impasse. Is it possible that the government will sooner or later 

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get involved in this process?

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I wouldn’t want to bore my colleagues and the Russian journalists with 

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issues concerning the Italian electoral law.

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Partly because it is not a very simple issue.

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You know that the government, from the moment it was formed,

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declared that the issue is within the competence of parliament,

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and we shall confine ourselves to supporting 

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and contributing to this work as best we can.

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We’ll see in the coming weeks and months how it will work out.

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As for the G7, I repeat, the issue is not whether the G7 

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will again become the G8.

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It is about working with a key partner like Russia and looking 

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for common ground on international crises.

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Although we are managing to take some steps forward in this regard,

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that is, in the positive work being done in Syria,

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there have also been difficulties,

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and there are some open questions regarding Ukraine,

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but the further we move forward the easier it will be 

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to answer your question.

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We did not refuse to be in the G8.

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Our partners chose not to come to us.

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We will always gladly welcome anyone who wants to cooperate 

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with Russia in any format.

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We will shortly be working in the G20 format in the Federal 

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Republic of Germany. Just recently the Prime Minister and I were 

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in China where President Xi Jinping rolled out an impressive programme 

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of cooperation, a diverse and multifaceted one.

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I am sure that if we work in this format –

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without any restrictions, without any political bias,

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and with the aim of achieving the maximum result in the economy 

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and also in the social sphere – we can achieve results.

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It is necessary to pool efforts in the economic sphere,

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in combating terror and poverty,

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and protecting nature and the climate.

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If we act in concert then the result will be positive,

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and if we act out of short-term considerations of political expediency,

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nothing good will come of it.

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We know that the Italian government has always consistently opposed 

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tightening the sanctions against Russia.

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Sectoral sanctions expire in July.

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Will you remain as consistent as before,

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and what are you prepared to propose to your European Union colleagues? 

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Decisions in the economic sphere, primarily?

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And a question for the President. Italy calls us a target country.

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Is Russia prepared to give similar priority to working with Italy and,

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if so, in what specific areas?

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Yes, we all know the nature of these sanctions,

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that the European Union’s decisions are connected with the Ukraine 

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crisis and with compliance with the Minsk Agreements.

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But our view is – and we have insisted on it and will continue to do so 

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in the framework of the European Union and NATO –

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the extension of sanctions cannot be automatic.

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There has to be a serious discussion of the issue.

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Of course, while preserving the goal of maintaining the unity 

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of the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance,

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because nothing can be achieved separately,

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in addition to this unity we should factor in how things are going with 

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respect to the Ukraine crisis.

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If compliance with the Minsk Agreements remains our goal,

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we should clearly tell one another what the situation is.

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Italy, by the way, has extra interest in this because next year it will 

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chair the OSCE, an organisation which plays an important role 

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in monitoring compliance with some important concrete 

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agreements made in Ukraine.

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00:26:53.352 --> 00:27:00.771
So no one should think that Italy will alone challenge the opinion 

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00:27:00.771 --> 00:27:07.748
of its allies, but nor should anyone think that decisions such 

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as the decision on sanctions can be passed automatically without 

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a detailed discussion of the real situation.

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As regards priorities in cooperation with Italy, there are many,

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00:27:20.095 --> 00:27:23.011
our cooperation is diversified.

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00:27:23.011 --> 00:27:26.967
Above all this includes work in high-tech spheres,

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in the field of science and education.

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00:27:29.899 --> 00:27:35.106
You have seen the signing of another agreement on cooperation between 

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higher education institutions.

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As I said in my opening remarks,

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we are working in the sphere of space exploration.

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We have completed a massive programme and there are good prospects 

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for building planes, helicopters and engines.

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00:27:54.567 --> 00:28:01.877
We have good and interesting results and good prospects in the sphere 

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00:28:01.877 --> 00:28:06.159
of infrastructure, not to mention energy.

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00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:10.294
There are all sorts of areas – hydrocarbon energy 

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00:28:10.294 --> 00:28:13.329
and renewable energy sources.

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00:28:13.329 --> 00:28:17.484
I was just discussing with the Prime Minister the interest 

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of the company Enel in developing wind energy.

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00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:25.894
And there are other areas.

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00:28:25.894 --> 00:28:33.421
We discussed it in detail today and we don’t doubt for a moment that 

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all these areas will be relevant and will develop.

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We’ll be able to look at the practical progress of many of these areas 

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during the course of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.