21 April 2004 18:26
Putin, Berlusconi pay each other compliments at news conference
[Presenter] We are going back to the events in Lipetsk. The Russian president and the Italian prime minister held a
news conference there today. It was attended by our correspondent Pavel Pchelkin. Here is his report.
[Putin] I really like such meetings, accompanied by the noise of industrial machinery, because this noise testifies
to development, to the solution of economic and social problems, both in Russia and in Italy.
[Correspondent] Silvio Berlusconi noted the beauty of the Russian women employed in the workshops and admitted that
he had even kissed one of them. On a more serious note, he said he was very happy there were as few foreigners as
possible in the management of this factory.
[Berlusconi, speaking Italian, with correspondent's translation superimposed] There are only three Italians. All
the rest are Russian citizens. They have been trained in Italy and now they are high-class specialists. Most
importantly, they are all young people. There are more and more people like this.
[Correspondent] Berlusconi said the atmosphere established at the plant shows that Russians and Italians find it easy
to work together.
[Putin] We will continue to create economic, administrative and cultural conditions in which our investors can feel
at ease here. The prime minister spoke of the atmosphere created at this enterprise, a favourable atmosphere. However, I
must say that it is the prime minister himself who is the main expert in creating a favourable climate between Russia
and Italy. [Video note: at this juncture Berlusconi jovially approaches Putin from behind and wipes Putin's
shoulders lightly with his handkerchief, both embrace briefly.]
We know his position with regard to Russia, we know the criticism to which he exposed himself in the EU because of
this, but I must say that the number of his political opponents neither grew nor diminished in Europe, but judging by
what we are seeing here today the number of his friends in Russia grew significantly.
[Correspondent] Answering journalists' questions, Vladimir Putin noted that the dialogue with the EU on ways of
rectifying the consequences for Russia of its expansion was proceeding with difficulty. He said Russia was paying very
close attention to constructive proposals from the EU. But not all of them are constructive.
[Putin] We have often - and especially some time ago - heard ourselves being criticized over the situation in the
Chechen Republic. For example, in any case, earlier on, we were constantly urged to hold talks and a dialogue with those
people that we consider to be terrorists [apparent reference to Chechen rebels] and now, to the best of our knowledge,
Terrorist No 1, [Usamah] Bin-Ladin, has put a proposal to Europe to hold talks. This proposal, as far as we know, was
rejected. The question is, why are they [Europe] turning to us with calls of such a nature?
[Correspondent] The leaders were not able to leave the hall immediately after the news conference. Over 200
journalists from Russia and Italy asked them questions on a wide range of subjects.
[Channel One TV] |
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