ROME, December 31. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s G8 presidency alongside Italy as president of the European Union in 2014 “will bring a new dimension to bilateral co-operation and permit a tangible contribution in international politics,” Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said on Tuesday.

“I believe that particularly in the next year, cooperation between Russia, chairing the Group of Eight (G8), and Italy, presiding in the European Union, will be especially fruitful and will bring a new dimension taking into account the fact that relations between the two countries are at the highest level,” the premier noted.

“We are absolutely convinced that the EU and Russia are interested in cooperation on political issues and economic spheres where the sides are drawing closer, particularly in the energy sector," Letta said.

"We should not forget about numerous international political crises which badly need accord and unity of Europe and Russia to settle. First of all, I refer to affairs in Syria, North Africa and the Middle East,” the premier said.