Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (L) jokes with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference in Lipetsk, some 400 km south of Moscow, April 21, 2004. REUTERS/Pool/Maxim Marmur Posted on 04/21/2004 8:38:50 PM PDT by Destro
21 Apr 2004 22:31
Putin, Berlusconi trade jokes after Iraq talks
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (L) jokes with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference in Lipetsk, some 400 km south of Moscow, April 21, 2004. REUTERS/Pool/Maxim Marmur
LIPETSK, Russia (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin joked and swapped fulsome compliments on Wednesday after talks overshadowed by the plight of Italian hostages in Iraq.
The two leaders, who have starkly different backgrounds, toured an appliance factory and provided a rare public display of the jocular familiarity that has grown between them.
Berlusconi, tanned and grinning, rushed over to Putin as a news conference was begining, pretending to dust his shoulders off with a handkerchief. He then enveloped him in an embrace.
With three Italian hostages captive in Iraq and Italy in sombre mood, Berlusconi joked that Putin had advice to share -- referring to the Kremlin leader's easy re-election last month.
"Putin needs to explain to me what you need to do in Italy to win 71 percent of the vote," he said.
He acknowledged in jest that he might have met his match in Putin in terms of mental ability.
"I am convinced that I am the best because I go to meetings very well prepared," he said. "But with Vladimir, it's tough. He has a prodigious memory. He knows every problem in detail."
Last November, Berlusconi seized a microphone from Putin in Rome and offered to be his "advocate".
There followed lengthy praise for Kremlin policies aimed at crushing separatists in Chechnya -- criticised by rights groups. Berlusconi was then president of the European Union and the EU Commission in Brussels distanced itself from his statements.
Putin, a former KGB agent, and Berlusconi, a business tycoon turned politician, would appear to have little in common.
But the Kremlin leader, who stayed at Berlusconi's Sardinia villa last year, lavishly returned compliments. Berlusconi, he said, was largely responsible for their warm working atmosphere.
And there was even a bit of healthy competition.
Berlusconi said Putin had agreed to race him around the plant owned by Italian firm Merloni to kiss the prettiest girl.
"Putin won," said a laughing Berlusconi.
A brunette planted a kiss on Putin's cheek. Berlusconi made up for second place when a nearby blonde gave him two kisses.
President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi smiling as they hit a button to start production at a Merloni washing machine plant Wednesday in Lipetsk.
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