Italian govt demands Russia reverse Ariston move (4)

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 29 - 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.
    "He asked Paramonov to clarify the reasons (for the move), which do not find a grounding in law, all the more so considering that it was adopted towards a company which has a historic rooting in the Country and which has no connection with the current situation of international crisis.
    "He also expressed to his interlocutor the hope that Russia may reconsider the measure it has taken, it having been described by the Russian side itself as temporary.
    "The European Union, in a statement, strongly condemned the relevant measure yesterday, which also struck a Germany company (Bosch), underscoring, among other things, that it represents further proof of the lack of respect for international law on the part of Russia.
    "The deputy premier and minister for foreign affairs, Antonio Tajani, has been in contact since the first moment with the company and reserves the right to examine in greater depth the consequences of the Russian decision together with the G7 and EU partners, and to evaluate an appropriate response.
    "In line with its European partners, and in particular with Germany, Italy asks the Russian Federation to withdraw the measures adopted against the legitimate economic activities of foreign countries in the Country".
    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.
    It said "on the part of the Russian side, exhaustive explanations have been furnished on the legality and foundation of the decisions taken regarding a form that is, in law, Dutch".
    (ANSA).