Berlusconi Announces Russian Visit

ARCORE, Italy -- Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced Monday he will travel to Moscow this year to sign a new cooperation treaty with Russia. "We will do everything we can so that Russia can become a major economic player on the world scene," Berlusconi said after meeting with Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin at Berlusconi's private residence in this Milan suburb. Italian officials said the treaty would provide for close political consultations and for a permanent advisory body composed mainly of businessmen and bankers. Cooperation would be raised to the level Russia now has only with Germany, the officials said. The Russian prime minister, visiting Milan for a meeting of natural-gas industry officials, also discussed Russia's participation in next month's gathering in Naples of the Group of Seven. Russia will take part in political discussions at the G-7, but not at this stage in economic matters. But Chernomyrdin said he was optimistic this would change soon. "We are certain that the Group of Seven will become the Group of Eight," he said.