Under review was a wide range of matters concerning bilateral cooperation being one of the priorities for the leaders of the two countries, notes the Russian foreign ministry's communique.
When dealing with international issues, the sides focused on Russia's contacts with the European Union, including Russian-Italian efforts to improve dialogue between Russia and the EU.
"The necessity was pressed to intensify the establishment of four common Russia-EU spaces and the compilation of relevant 'roadmaps'", says the document.
Chizhov reported about the on-going process of ratification of the Protocol on extending the Russia-EU Agreement on partnershiop and cooperation to ten new European Union members. Emphasis was put on the necessity of strictly observing provisions of the April 27, 2004 Joint Statement, including its provisions about Kaliningrad transit and observance of ethnic minorities' rights in the Baltic republics.
Later in the day, the Russian diplomat conferred with Minister for European Union Matters Rocco Buttiglione who is to enter on November 1 the Commission of European Communities as Italy's envoy responsible for justice, the interior and migration. They dealt with Russia's and the European Union's cooperation in these spheres, including prospects for introducing visa-free trips for Russian citizens to the European Union and for EU citizens to Russia.
