Berlusconi, Putin and following the money

With no irony in evidence**, Reuters reports as follows: 

Vladimir Putin called Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi a dear friend and an outstanding politician in a tribute to the former prime minister who died on Monday aged 86. “For me, Silvio was a dear person, a true friend. I have always sincerely admired his wisdom, his ability to make balanced, far-sighted decisions even in the most difficult situations,” Putin said in a message of condolence. Berlusconi will be remembered in Russia as a “consistent and principled supporter of strengthening friendly relations between our countries”, he said.

Well, well.  Lots of fellow feeling in evidence there; (though “principled” seems a bit of a stretch).  Maybe a suggestion of some significant personal, errr, interests in common?  Perhaps Putin has lost a very dear friend indeed: in which case, our condolences.

There is some forensic analysis still to see the light of day here, but I’m not sure you get much of that in Italy.  Still … just how did Putin become many commentators’ candidate for the wealthiest man in the world?

They must think he’s a financial genius.

ND

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** Then again, the report does go on to note:  “Like former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Berlusconi cultivated close relations with Moscow during Putin’s first years in the Kremlin from 2000 onwards.“  What could Reuters possibly mean by mentioning that?