Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi says that he feels the decision by western countries to exclude Russia from the G8 is "counterproductive."
Leaders of the Group of Seven nations, which does not include Russia, agreed Monday to hold their own summit instead of attending a G8 meeting in Russia after Russia's annexation of Crimea.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SAYING:
"I find the decision by leaders meeting in The Hague to exclude Russia from the G8, counterproductive. This a contrast to the work that the Italian government has carried out, we were the first to invite Russian President Boris Yeltsin to the G7 in Naples in 1994. And it was us again that transform the G7 into the G8 in Genoa inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin. I think what happened yesterday is in contrast to history, we managed to make the Russian federation think of itself as western rather than an eastern power, a member of the western democr
