As Mr. Berlusconi has noted, we paid considerable attention during the talks to the preparation of the official visit of the Italian Prime Minister to Russia. We highly value relations with Italy, which are, from our point of view, an important factor of stability and cooperation in the European continent.

Italy is already our second largest trading partner in Europe at present. And we've got possibilities for the further expansion of cooperation in the most diverse fields. We are confident that the upcoming visit of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to Moscow, his talks with Russian President Putin will mark a new stage in the further development of cooperation between our countries.

We are grateful to the Italian Prime Minister for his active support of the expansion of cooperation between Russia and the European Union, which is called upon, in our view, to jointly create the architecture of a future Greater Europe. We are also grateful to Italy for its active stand in favor of the creation of a new mechanism of cooperation by Russia and the NATO states in the format of a Council at 20.

The talks have shown that in approaches to the majority of international problems our positions are similar or identical. This applies fully to regional crises as well.

Question from Interfax News Agency: What are the dynamics in the talks between Russia and NATO on the creation of a Council at 20? Are there any problems, in your view, that impede the creation of this mechanism by the summit in Reykjavik?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: I can only agree with the words which the Italian Prime Minister has just said. Russia believes that the new Council at 20 should not be an advisory body, but a mechanism which would take decisions on specific issues. That is what we are now working on.

Question from the Italian news agency ANSA: Did your talk encompass the problems of international terrorism in Europe? What does Mr. Ivanov think about this, does such a danger exist for Europe?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: But of course we discussed problems relating to the struggle against international terrorism. Russia and Italy together participate in the antiterrorist coalition. Unfortunately, such phenomena as terrorism have no borders, so the international community has to join efforts to combat this evil of the 21st century. And we cooperate both within the UN and within regional organizations, as well as at the bilateral level.

At the end of April 2002, a meeting of the ministers of the interior and justice of the European Union countries and Russia on the issues of the struggle against international terrorism in the European space will take place. We have a complete mutual understanding here, and we are open for the closest cooperation with Italy.

Question from the 1st channel of Italian state television and broadcasting (RAI 1): Was any understanding reached as to the situation in the Middle East, especially from the view of point of the Italian government's idea of developing a "Marshall plan" for an economic revival of the Palestinian territories?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: We discussed the situation in the Middle East, which seriously worries us. There are a whole series of proposals and initiatives on the basis of which efforts are now being made to remove tension in the region. Certainly, we view Mr. Berlusconi's initiative positively, as the region's economic revival must become the foundation of peaceful life.