Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Rome

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Rome

Rome [ENA] On Friday 23rd November 2018, at about 12.30 pm, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Enzo Moavero Milanesi met at Villa Madama in Rome the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Relations between Italy and Russia at the moment are strong and positive. The collaboration on the Libyan crisis is offering insights and future prospects. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYgtYb5vJFs

Sanctions were imposed on Moscow by the EU and its main Western partners since 2014 following the serious events in Ukraine. Russia had certainly not foreseen that the European Union would prove able to decide and maintain sanctions. In a situation where EU members’ foreign policy interests usually differ rather than converge, such a show of unity remains quite extraordinary. As suggested in the EU’s Global strategy, foreign policy disparities among member states have been transcended by the fact that Russia’s violation of international law and the destabilization of Ukraine, on top of protracted conflicts in the Black Sea region, did defy the European security order.

Italy, on the other hand, while admitting Russia’s distinct responsibility for the unlawful annexation of Crimea and the destabilization of Donbass, has constantly worked to keep a constructive dialogue with the Russian Federation. In Rome the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Lavrov could explain his position comparing the situation in Ukraine with that of Gambia in 2014 from the point of view of international law. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY9YWEVvayM The position of Italy comprises a wide-ranging approach that supports Russia to collaborate in finding shared solutions for the world’s main challenges, including the fight against violent extremism and major international crises.

Italian Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi

Political representatives from the countries meet very frequently and Vladimir Putin said clearly that Russia considers its relationship with Italy a special one. Italy is conscious of this, and seems to be glad about it. The privileged relationship derives from the observation that Italy plays its part together with its European and American allies with reliability and firmness but at the same time does not wish to exclude dialogue with Moscow. Since the Sixties, Italy has been combining loyalty to its allies with an intense special relationship with Moscow - because of the circumstance of the presence of in its territory of the former weightiest western Communist Party - on economic and other matters.

That explains the idea of a special relationship. In sectors not affected by sanctions, there are no hindrances to economic collaboration with Russia. In fact, the descending trend in oil prices has pushed the Russian economy towards diversification, opening up new opportunities for Italian companies. The volume of trade has fallen but Russia is still a market with huge potential for Italy. Among the main collaborations between Italian and Russian cultural institutions, the one with the Pushkin Museum should be emphasized. It has led to exhibitions that have brought some of Italy’s most important art to the Russian public.

In addition, the Ermitage Italia Research and Cultural Centre has established collaboration with the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. https://www.reporters.de/gallery/aussenminister_sergej_lawrow_in_rom-441/ Italy and Russia’s collaboration in the field of research and technology is founded on the Science and Technology Cooperation Accord, which was signed in Rome on 1 December 1995 and came into force in 1999. Italy especially collaborates with Russia in physics – theoretical and nuclear, and in medical applications – space, radiobiology, radiotherapy and so on. The European Union sees its relationship with Russia as a ‘key strategic challenge’.

Its members are worried by Russia’s violations of international commitments and increased military activity in Europe. They indirectly point to a tension between Russia’s internal (economic, demographic, societal) weaknesses and its claim to be recognized as one of the ‘centers of influence’ in the emerging multipolar world order. The recent efforts have transformed the Russian armed forces and have produced a fully combat-ready, professional, well trained military which are able to conduct complex operations. The relatively calibrated Crimea and Syria operations have partly illustrated this evolution, particularly as concerns special forces and airborne troops.