Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday denied allegations contained in leaked US diplomatic documents that his pursuit of close relations with Russia was motivated by personal gain, DPA reported.
"The United States knows very clearly that I don't have any (vested) interest with any other country, that there are absolutely no personal interests," Berlusconi said.
"I only look after the interests of the Italian people and those of my country," he added, speaking on the margins of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Berlusconi was reacting to a question about documents posted on the internet by whistleblower site, WikiLeaks.
A classified 2009 document sent by then US ambassador to Rome, Ronald Spogli, mentions suspicions among Italy's opposition centre-left, but also within Berlusconi's own conservative People of Freedom party, of a "nefarious connection" linking the premier to Moscow.
"They believe that Berlusconi and his cronies are profiting personally and handsomely from many energy deals between Italy and Russia," the document said.
Another excerpt of a message sent by Spogli mentions US dismay at Berlusconi's conduct during a "disastrous" November 2008 press conference "in which inter alia the PM (Berlusconi) described NATO expansion, recognition of Kosovo's independence and missile defence as 'US provocations' of Russia."
"Even FM (Italian Foreign Minister Franco) Frattini admits wielding no influence on Berlusconi on Russia," the document said.
The document also comments on how Berlusconi's close friendship with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has influenced Rome's relations with Moscow.
"His (Berlusconi's) overwhelming desire is to remain in Putin's good graces, and he has frequently voiced opinions and declarations that have been passed to him directly by Putin," it said, citing as an example the 2008 armed conflict between Russia and Georgia.
"Berlusconi began (and continues to insist) that Georgia was the aggressor and that the GOG (Government of Georgia) was responsible for several hundred civilian deaths in South Ossetia." the document said.
On Wednesday US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton moved to reassure Berlusconi of Washington's desire to maintain good relations with Rome in the wake of the WikiLeaks revelations.
Clinton held bilateral talks with the Italian premier in Astana, where she was also attending the OSCE summit.
On Thursday, Frattini said Clinton had, at the meeting, praised Italy's attempts to improve relations between NATO and Russia and Rome's "stabilising" role during the Russian-Georgian crisis.
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