MOSCOW, June 10. /TASS/. The current sanctions should not be seen as an obstacle for investing in the Russian economy, Italian Ambassador to Russia Cesare Maria Ragaglini said on Friday.

"Italy believes that Russia is an important country at the global level," he said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel. "Sanctions, both Europe’s and Russia’s, should not be used as a pretext or an alibi not to invest in Russia."

The Italian diplomat noted that the sanctions cover a very tiny area of possible cooperation.

"Ninety percent of our industrial cooperation offers possibilities for investments," he said, adding that a number of agreements between Russian and Italian companies are expected to be signed during the forthcoming St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. "There are agreements, which have been prepared for a long time and which can be signed," he noted.