The Italian government and diplomacy are working to “save” Ariston from Russian control. The issue became a diplomatic matter after Moscow’s decision to nationalize the Russian branches of the Italian company was made known last Friday. Ariston and German Bosch. Vladimir Putin signed a decree for the “temporary transfer” of the two companies to the Russian Gazprom Domestic Systems, the company of the state Gazprom group that produces home appliances.
Farnesina, Russia reconsider the provision
The Farnesina received the ambassador of the Russian Federation in Italy, who had been summoned on the Ariston case, and expressed to him “strong disappointment” at the transfer into temporary administration of Ariston Thermo Rus, a company belonging to the Ariston Group, to a company of the Gazprom group. The Italian government has asked Russia to reconsider the provision, the reasons for which – we read in a note from the ministry – “have no basis in law”.
“Ambassador Guariglia expressed the strong disappointment of the Italian Government for this unexpected measure and asked Ambassador Alexey Paramonov for clarification on its reasons, which have no basis in law, especially considering that it was adopted against a a company which has historical roots in the country and which has no connection with the current international crisis situation. He also expressed to his interlocutor the hope that Russia may reconsider the measure taken, as it is itself classified by the Russian side as being. temporary”. The European Union, with its own statement, harshly condemned the provision in question yesterday – the ministry note continues – which also affected a German company, underlining, among other things, how it represents further proof of failure to comply by Russia of international law. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani has been in contact with the company since the beginning and reserves the right to investigate the consequences of the Russian decision together with the G7 and EU partners and to evaluate an appropriate response. In line with its European partners, and in particular with Germany, Italy asks the Russian Federation to withdraw the measures taken against legitimate economic activities of foreign companies in the country. The competent structures of the MAECI, in particular the General Directorate for the Country System, continue to follow and monitor the situation, in close collaboration with our Embassy in Moscow and our Permanent Representation to the EU.
The Russian ambassador replies “the fault of the Italian authorities”
“The responsibility for the negative consequences” of the deterioration of relations between Russia and Italy “falls entirely on the Italian authorities”. This was reported by the ambassador of the Russian Federation, Alexey Paramonov, received today at the Farnesina on the case of the transfer of 100% of the Russian branch of Ariston under the temporary control of Gazprom. The ambassador, we read in the note released by the diplomatic representation, “reminded his interlocutors that Moscow has always attributed particular importance to profitable and mutually beneficial trade and economic relations with Italy”.
“The responsibility for the negative consequences of their deterioration falls entirely on the Italian authorities who sacrificed the real national interests of the Republic to participate in sterile and dangerous anti-Russian geopolitical adventures“, concluded the diplomat.
Urso reassures Merloni: in action together with the EU
The Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, had a conference call with the president of Ariston Group, Paolo Merloni, and the CEO Maurizio Brusadelli, in the presence of the president of the Marche Region, Francesco Acquaroli. The subject of the meeting was the story of the company Ariston Thermo Rus LLC, the Russian subsidiary of Ariston Thermo Group, transferred by presidential act under temporary management to JSC Gazprom Household System.
Minister Urso, who had already heard from the Ariston Group summit on Saturday, illustrated the action that the Italian Government is carrying out with the European Commission regarding the development of new instruments, within the European sanctioning framework, aimed at protecting Italian and European companies affected by similar acts of retaliation by the Russian Federation and to discourage the recurrence of such actions.