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".
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