The memo from the U.S. Embassy in Rome, released this week by Wikileaks, alleged an uncomfortably close relationship between Berlusconi and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
It claims that meetings between Berlusconi and Putin include the exchange of lavish gifts and that Berlusconi and his allies are believed to be personally profiting from Italy’s extensive energy contracts with Russia.
Friday’s visit by Berlusconi did not list a meeting with Putin, but he met in the mountain resort of Krasnaya Polyana with President Dmitry Medvedev, who observers widely believe wields less power than Putin.
Berlusconi dismissed the cable’s claims, telling a news conference Friday with Medvedev that "there has never been a single personal interest. We have always worked in the interest of our respective countries."
The cable and other communiques critical of Berlusconi were based on comments from local officials "who want to make it look like they are well-informed."
Medvedev in turn didn’t comment on the specific claims about Berlusconi, but said the tranche of cables released by Wikileaks — many of which have contained acid criticism of Russia — "show the full measure of cynicism in the assessments and conclusions that prevail in the foreign policy of various states, and I mean the U.S."
Then he appeared to try to leaven that sharp criticism by joking that Russian diplomatic cables also contain unflattering characterizations of U.S. policies, diplomats and leaders.
"If, God forbid, mass media learned certain assessments made by Russia’s Foreign Ministry or special services, including (the assessments) of our U.S. partners, they’d have a whole lot of fun too," he said.
At the meeting, Russia and Italy agreed on holding joint military exercises next year and signed a partnership memorandum between Italy’s Enel utility and Russian power trader Inter RAO.
The cable most critical of Berlusconi from the U.S. Embassy in Rome portrays him as essentially acting as a European mouthpiece for Putin.
"His overwhelming desire is to remain in Putin’s good graces and he has frequently voiced opinions and declarations passed to him directly by Putin," the communique says.
In part, the cable says, that reflects Italy’s reliance on Russian gas. The energy-hungry country imports about nine times more gas than it produces, and Russia supplies about 40 percent of that.
"In its relation with Russia, energy is the most important bilateral issue and the quest for stable energy supplies from Russia frequently forces Italy to compromise on security and political issues," it says.
Such apparent compromises include support for "Medvedev’s plans to redefine European security architecture to undermine the OSCE and NATO" and Italian opposition to NATO efforts to improve ties with Georgia and Ukraine, the cable says.
But the report also suggests Berlusconi is emotionally and financially enriched by close relations with Russia. Berlusconi is believed to "admire Putin’s macho, decisive and authoritarian governing style, which the Italian PM believes matches his own," the cable said.
In addition, the cable says contacts from within Berlusconi’s party and from an opposition party "hinted at a more nefarious connection. They believe that Berlusconi and his cronies are profiting personally and handsomely from many of the energy deals between Italy and Russia."
Berlusconi has also been the subject of many other U.S. diplomatic cables, some touching on the scandals that have engulfed the premier’s private life, amid reports of parties with young girls and allegations of encounters with a prostitute.
"I don’t think we should attach too much importance to certain assessments, which are certainly annoying because they trigger comments in the press, but which at the end of the day I hope won’t bring about any changes among the interested countries," he said Friday.
