ID:211902
    Date:2009-06-12 16:03:00
    Origin:09STATE60946
    Source:Secretary of State
    Classification:SECRET
    Dunno:09MOSCOW1273
    Destination:VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #0946 1631625
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 121603Z JUN 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1085
INFO RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1119

    
S E C R E T STATE 060946 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2034 
TAGS: PINR, ENRG, EPET, PGOV, PREL, RS 
SUBJECT: (C)  KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON 
ITALIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS (C-RE9-01310) 
 
REF: MOSCOW 001273 
 
Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS.  REASON:  1.4(C). 
 
1.  (S)  WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATE EXCELLENT 
REFTEL ON ITALIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS, A TOPIC OF GREAT 
ANALYTIC INTEREST.  REFTEL WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN PROVIDING 
INSIGHT INTO THE ITALIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONSHIP FROM MOSCOW'S 
PERSPECTIVE, AND WILL BE USED IN A NUMBER OF FORTHCOMING 
ANALYTIC PRODUCTS.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANY ADDITIONAL 
INSIGHTS POST CAN PROVIDE ON THE BELOW QUESTIONS AND ON OTHER 
TOPICS RELATED TO THIS DYNAMIC, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. 
 THANK YOU, AND BEST REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. 
 
A.  (C)  HOW DOES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUTIN AND 
BERLUSCONI COMPARE TO THAT BETWEEN MEDVEDEV AND BERLUSCONI? 
 
B.  (C)  ON WHAT OTHER ISSUES DOES MOSCOW SPECIFICALLY LOOK 
TO ITALY AS A GO-BETWEEN? 
 
C.  (C)  HOW, IF AT ALL, DOES MOSCOW INTEND TO ALTER ITS 
RELATIONSHIP WITH ITALY ONCE BERLUSCONI IS NO LONGER PRIME 
MINISTER? 
 
2.  (U)  PLEASE CITE C-RE9-01310 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF 
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. 
CLINTON