ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is insisting he looks after Italy's and not his own interests, after a Wikileaks cable from a former U.S. ambassador cites Georgian contentions the media mogul was promised personal profits in energy deals with Russia.
Former Rome ambassador Ronald Spogli cites Georgia’s ambassador in Rome as telling the Americans the Georgians believe Russian leader Vladimir Putin promised Berlusconi a percentage of profits from natural gas deals.
Berlusconi, who boasts of his friendship with Putin, told reporters in Kazakhstan Thursday that Washington knows he only looks after Italy’s interests, not his own.
Russia and Georgia briefly went to war in 2008 over South Ossetia. Berlusconi’s allies claim the Italian leader used his Putin friendship to help end the conflict.
