Kozak appeared before reporters in the capital of Rome Monday, after talks with Italian Public Administration Minister Luigi Mazzella, who had visited Moscow this past May. He noted that the relations between Russia and Italy were gaining pace and that his meeting with Mazzella had been yet another proof of the fact.
"Our dialogue demonstrated that although we are going separate ways, issues of relieving civil initiative from redtape are in the focus of both governments' attention," Kozak said. In reply to a question from RIA Novosti, he reported that two ad hoc groups were now considering ways to relax administrative procedures so as to make it easier for Italian businesses to operate in Russia and vice versa.
Mazzella, for his part, told the media that he had found very informative Kozak's story about Russian administrative reform. He went on to stress the importance of Russo-Italian cooperation in training and upgrading civil servants.
Kozak's visit to Italy will last two days. He is expected to meet with quite a few public administration officials, of both regional and national standing, as well as with the heads of a number of parliamentary commissions.
Tonight, Kozak will have a scheduled meeting with Italian Vice Premier Gianfranco Fini.
