ITALY: PRESIDENT CARLO AZEGLIO CIAMPI MEETS WITH VISITING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

Record ID: 442971

  • Title: ITALY: PRESIDENT CARLO AZEGLIO CIAMPI MEETS WITH VISITING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN
  • Date: 7th November 2003
  • Summary: (U4) ROME, ITALY (NOVEMBER 5, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV GUARD OF HONOUR; MV RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AND ITALIAN PRESIDENT CARLO AZEGLIO CIAMPI STANDING ON RED CARPET AS BAND PLAYS RUSSIAN ANTHEM; MV PUTIN AND CIAMPI STANDING ON RED CARPET; SLV GUARD OF HONOUR; MV CAVALIERS; MV SOLDIERS STANDING AT ATTENTION; MV MASTER OF CEREMONY INVITING PUTIN TO INSPECT GUARD OF HONOUR; SLV PUTIN AND CIAMPI WALKING PAST GUARD OF HONOUR / ENTERING BUILDING (10 SHOTS) 1.13 2. MV PUTIN AND CIAMPI SITTING AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR MEETING; MV CIAMPI AND PUTIN 1.27 3. SCU RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV AT MEETING 1.30 4. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 1.33 5. (SOUNDBITE)(Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SAYING "We hope our meeting at the summit, that will begin tomorrow in Rome, will be a step towards finding a solution to the strategic objective in the rapprochement between Russia and the European Union". 1.48 6. MV SOLDIER AND MASTER OF CEREMONY STANDING 1.52 7. (SOUNDBITE)(Russian) PUTIN SAYING "I would also like to say, Russia and Italy have a shared concern in regards to eliminating the barrier of visas and the necessity of guaranteeing true freedom in the contact between people in the European continent." 2.06 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRESIDENT CARLO AZEGLIO CIAMPI SAYING "The values of freedom, of democracy, of rights, are essential for Russia's future and for the building of Europe in a large, shared space of security, economic interdependence, and cultural dialogue." 2.23 9. SLV PAN MV PUTIN AND CIAMPI SHAKE HANDS AND LEAVE ROOM 2.35 10. SLV STATUE; MV PUTIN ARRIVING AT THE VILLA DORIA PAMPHILI FOR TALKS WITH ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI; MV PUTIN SHAKING HANDS WITH ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI; LAS FLAGS 2.57 11. SLV BAND PLAYS RUSSIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM; MV PUTIN AND BERLUSCONI LISTEN; SCU MILITARY OFFICER SALUTING (4 SHOTS) 3.22 12. MV PUTIN AND BERLUSCONI ENTER MEETING; MV PUTIN AND BERLUSCONI LEAVE MEETING; MV PUTIN AND BERLUSCONI WALK AROUND GARDEN 4.16 13. SLV MEMORIAL OF UNKNOWN SOLDIER IN PIAZZA VENEZIA; MV PUTIN LAYING WREATH (10 SHOTS) 5.40 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVAD6QSM2AWD70EYN6UQ9CRZR1NP
  • Story Text: Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with
    Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in Rome.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin met Italian leaders
    for a one-day summit on Wednesday (November 5, 2003) with both
    sides skirting around the crisis at Russian oil giant YUKOS.

    Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, in a welcome
    full of pomp and ceremony, praised Putin's handling of the
    Russian economy and made no reference to European Union
    concerns over the recent judicial assault on YUKOS.

    While Italian diplomats say the YUKOS saga is an
    internal Russian affair, EU leaders want reassurance that
    the arrest last month of the-then YUKOS CEO, Mikhail
    Khodorkovsky, does not mark the start of a purge against
    big business in Russia.

    The issue is expected to come up at an EU-Russian
    summit on Thursday (November 6), also to be staged in Rome.

    But as far as the Wednesday meeting was concerned, the two
    sides, seemed eager to stick closely to a script that was
    prepared well before the YUKOS saga broke.

    Speaking at the residence of Ciampi, Putin was
    confident of productive talks.

    "We hope our meeting at the summit, that will begin
    tomorrow in Rome, will be a step towards finding a solution
    to the strategic objective in the rapprochement between
    Russia and the European Union," Putin said.

    Russia and Italy have a shared concern in regards to
    eliminating the barrier of visas and the necessity of
    guaranteeing true freedom in the contact between people in
    the European continent," he added.

    Later Putin met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio
    Berlusconi for talks regarding bilateral accords, including
    a multi-million dollar deal to supply more gas to Italy,
    were set to be unveiled.

    It is the sixth time that Putin and Berlusconi have met
    since the start of the year and the Italian leader has
    ruffled European Union feathers by suggesting that Russia
    should become a fully-fledged member of the rapidly
    enlarging EU bloc.

    Italy holds the rotating EU presidency and on Thursday,
    Berlusconi will host the twice annual EU-Russian summit,
    with a host of senior EU officials, including Commission
    President Romano Prodi flying in for the half-day encounter.

    After his meetings with Italian leaders on Wednesday,
    Putin will cross the river Tiber to see the ailing Pope
    John Paul.

    He has promised to encourage the Russian Orthodox and
    Catholic churches to improve ties soured by a decade of
    post-Communist suspicions.

    Many obstacles, however, stand in the way of
    reconciliation between the two Christian faiths and Putin
    looks unlikely to secure a swift visit by the pope to
    Russia, one of the only major states the 83-year old
    pontiff has yet to set foot in.

    The final leg of Putin's lightning visit to the West
    will take him to France on Friday for brief talks with
    President Jacques Chirac.


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