The Italian government on Monday told
Russia's Ambassador to Italy Alexei Paramonov that Moscow must
reverse its decision to put the Russian subsidiary of Italian
heating firm Ariston under the "temporary management" of
Gazprom.
Paramonov was received on Monday at the foreign ministry in Rome
by Secretary General Riccardo Guariglia after being summoned on
Saturday by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani over the move
regarding Ariston Thermo Rus and a German company.
Guariglia "expressed the Italian government's strong
disappointment" to Paramonov and asked for clarification.
"In line with its European partners, and in particular with
Germany, Italy is asking the Russian Federation to withdraw the
measures adopted against legitimate economic activities of
foreign companies in the country," said a foreign ministry
statement after the meeting.
The Russian embassy said Paramonov provided "exhaustive
explanations on the legality and grounds for the decisions
taken".
It said that Paramonov "reminded his interlocutors that Moscow
has always attached particular importance to profitable and
mutually beneficial trade and economic relations with Italy.
"The responsibility for the negative consequences of their
deterioration falls entirely on the Italian authorities, who
have sacrificed real national interests to participate in
sterile, dangerous anti-Russian adventures," it said.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
