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Italian-Russian Talks Concern About American NMD
The American National Missile Defense (NMD) problem was the common topic in the talks between Italian Premier Giuliano Amato and Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini with Visiting Russian Premier Mikhail Kasyanov on Monday.
During the premiers' meeting, which Kasyanov defined as "frank and direct," they discussed international issues such as the U.S. "Star Wars" plan and Russia's reaction to it, and problems related to the expansion of NATO into the ex-Soviet block, according to the Italian news agency ANSA's report.
The American satellite-based anti-missile system was also at the center of Kasyanov-Dini talks, a statement from the Italian foreign ministry confirmed.
In their talks on the American NMD, the Russian premier reiterated Moscow's concerns while Dini said that a new important phase of consultations was opening which would define the nature and time-table for the American initiative.
Much of the three-day visit of Kasyanov, who arrived in Italy Sunday, has been focused on Italo-Russian business ties. Specifically, Kasyanov mentioned joint projects in the auto, aeronautics and space industries, as well as the so-called Blue Stream plan for a 1,200-kilometre pipeline by Italian oil giant Eni and Russian fuels colossus Gazprom.
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