Italian and Russian Presidents Meet

President Vladimir Putin met with Italy's president on Monday and suggested that international monitors could help solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Israel opposes monitors.

Putin said he and President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi discussed the Middle East and agreed to coordinate their peacemaking activities. Putin reiterated Russia's support for the Palestinians' desire for an independent state, but added that Russia ``categorically opposes violence.''

Ciampi arrived in Moscow on Sunday evening for a three-day visit. He was also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, parliamentary leaders, and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II.

Russia has been pushing for a boost in trade and investment with Western Europe, and Italy in particular. Italy is Russia's fifth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to $3.8 billion in the first half of the year, compared with $4.9 billion for all of 1999, according to Russia's Economics and Trade Ministry.

Putin said the trade volume was expected to reach $7 billion this year.

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