Good afternoon, esteemed ladies and gentlemen. Let me briefly inform you of the results of our work. First of all, I wish to emphasize the special character that is evolving between Russia and Italy and to greet once more the President of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister of Italy in our country.

I must say that our dialogue at the most diverse levels of cooperation is going on continually; this applies to business people -- businessmen, the governments, people who work in the arts sphere. Generally, relations are developing in all areas. I think many of the Russian viewers had the pleasure of attending the concerts of the foreign masters. I am confident that this opportunity will be given repeatedly. All of this creates favorable conditions for positively dealing with many questions of interest to Russia and Italy on the international scene.

We also paid special attention to bilateral relations and our cooperation in world affairs today. Much has been said about the situation in the Middle East, including that around Iraq. I for my part affirmed the readiness of the Russian leadership to discuss with our partners in the United Nations and, if necessary, arrive at an additional UN resolution that would guarantee the work of inspectors in Iraq. I mean that all of the international community's questions can, in our deep conviction, be removed in the course of the work of these inspectors, who must be dispatched there as soon as possible.

We spoke of the development of relations between Russia and the EU. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his understanding of Russia's concern that arises in connection with the EU enlargement and the problems which arise around the Kaliningrad Oblast. We will continue the dialogue with our colleagues in the Commission of the European Communities and will count upon the support of such countries as Italy and other states which understand the full complexity of the problem and the sensitivity of this question for the Russian Federation.

We still have an hour and a half to two hours ahead, the Prime Minister has agreed to stay for lunch. I hope we will manage to discuss many questions of a bilateral nature


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