Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday held talks with his visiting Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano, hailing bilateral trade and energy cooperation and asking for support for his common European security proposal.
"We believe it is a perfect time for considering Russia's proposal on convening a common European summit, at which we could launch the process of developing a legally binding treaty on European security," Medvedev said after the talks in the Kremlin.
The heads of state discussed common European security, including in the context of the U.S. plans to deploy missile defense facilities in Central Europe, the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), and NATO's open-door policy, Interfax reported.
Russia has been advocating a European Security Treaty, which is seen as an effort to reduce the EU's security dependence on the United States which is causing friction with Russia, typically on its missile shield plans in Central Europe.
"Italy will support maintaining a position of special attention to this issue and openness for profound discussions on this proposal in the European Union," Napolitano said after talks with Medvedev.
The presidents also discussed energy and economic cooperation and pledged to further such ties, including a South Stream project that will pump Russian gas to other parts of Europe.
Source:Xinhua
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