Russia's Medvedev in Rome for talks on energy, defence and culture

Feb 16, 2011, 14:51 GMT

Rome - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev began Wedcnesday a two-day visit to Rome which will focus on his country's cooperation with Italy in the energy, defence and culture sectors.

The Russian president's first stop was a meeting with his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano.

Medvedev was later scheduled to inaugurate a Russian-Italian cultural exchange year with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at a Rome museum.

The two leaders were also set to meet for evening talks focussing on joint projects in the energy sector, including the construction of the South Stream gas transport network to Southern Europe via the Black Sea.

Also on the agenda was Russian energy company Gazprom9s involvement in the Elephant oilfield in Libya in an asset-swap deal with Italy's state-controlled energy company Eni.

Russia and Italy are also set to sign an agreement that will allow the Italian military to supply its continent in Afghanistan by flying personnel and ammunition over Russian territory.

Medvedev's visit comes one day after Berlusconi was ordered by a judge to stand trial on charges of having had sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power.

Earlier Berlusconi, who is facing mounting pressure from the Italy's centre-left opposition to resign, said he was 'not at all worried,' by the indictment and vowed to see out his term which ends in 2013.

On Thursday Medvedev planned to meet Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican - the first visit to the Holy See by a Russian leader since the establishment of full-fledged diplomatic relations with Moscow in 2009.

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