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UPDATE 1-Berlusconi wants to see Russia become EU member
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BRUSSELS, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Wednesday he would work to make Russia part of the European Union in the coming years.
"I feel that Russia is a Western nation. My project is that, in the coming years, the Russian Federation can become a member of the EU," Berlusconi told reporters in Brussels.
The European Union and Russia have long been trying to forge a partnership agreement but talks were suspended over Russia's August war with ex-Soviet Georgia.
The European Union earlier this week deferred a decision on when to restart talks with Moscow, saying it wanted to see more evidence Russia would stick to a ceasefire deal with Georgia.
Berlusconi, a close friend of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and an ally of U.S. President George W. Bush, characterises the Georgia conflict of as an isolated incident.
He also takes credit for behind-the-scenes diplomatic work to keep it from sparking a new Cold War.
(Reporting by Francesco Guaraschio in Brussels; writing by Phil Stewart in Rome; Editing by Sami Aboudi)
