Good, but former

Russia is not lucky with its European friends: not so long ago, “old friend” Schröder lost the elections in Germany, and yesterday in Italy Berlusconi lost to Romano Prodi. Moscow is already sad in advance for the lost love of Rome. It is unlikely that Prodi, who is determined to strengthen relations with Europe, will defend Russia from attacks by the EU, is unlikely to invite Putin’s daughters to relax at his villa, and is unlikely to cheerfully take pictures between Putin and Bush. All this, apparently, is in the past: oh, let me down, friend Silvio...