Opinion: A slap in the face for East Europeans and Americans

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1. FI demands to end to Russian sanctions

(ANSA) - Rome, June 11 - Ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (FI) political party on Thursday called for an end to Italy's participation in sanctions against Russia over its role in the violence in Ukraine.

The bid, which also chided the United States for selfishness, came just hours after Berlusconi held a private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, described by many as a personal friend, in Rome.

FI House Leader Renato Brunetta said he hoped for a parliamentary debate on the issue before June 25 when European Union leaders begin their own meetings on whether to extend current sanctions.

Brunetta said that the sanctions are costing Italians about eight million euros daily due to lost business opportunities.
"Italy must be a bridge of peace between the EU, US and Russia," said Brunetta, adding that Berlusconi was now drafting the precise wording of the motion for an end to sanctions. He suggested the US was selfish in pushing hard for sanctions that don't actually hurt Washington as much as it harms Italy and other European countries.

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2015/06/11/fi-demands-to-end-to-russian-sanctions_aebfbf0f-c54c-485b-a84e-b7ed328143b2.html