(C) KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON

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