OREANDA-NEWS. Former Italian Prime Minister, leader of the Forward Italy party, Silvio Berlusconi, believes that at present there is a lack of prominent personalities in international politics, and in this regard he called Russian President Vladimir Putin "the only truly major leader in the world."

In an interview Thursday published by the Turin newspaper La Stampa, Berlusconi talked about how the Russian president congratulated him on his 85th birthday.

"Not so long ago, my friend Putin called me to congratulate me, and I told him exactly the following:" Vlad, I am telling you this, not to flatter me - you know me, I am always sincere. But today, the only truly major leader in the world is only you. "He laughed, but I wasn't joking, it's just true," said the patriarch of Italian politics.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on his 85th birthday by telephone, noted his great contribution to the development of relations between Russia and Italy, wished him health and well-being, the Kremlin press service reports.

"During the telephone conversation, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the former Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, the head of the Forward Italy party, Silvio Berlusconi, on his 85th birthday, noted his great personal contribution to the development of Russian-Italian relations, and wished him good health and prosperity," - the message says.

It is noted that earlier Putin also sent a congratulatory telegram to Silvio Berlusconi on the occasion of his birthday.