Italy adamant on not returning killer marines; India furious

14 Mar 2013

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Continuing to thumb its nose at India and its judicial system, Italy today remained adamant about not returning its two marines for trial in India over the killing of two fishermen off the south Indian coast in 2012.

Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi said during a visit to Israel that his country is on solid legal ground in seeking international arbitration in the case.

"We have solid juridical reasons to proceed in the direction of international arbitration," Terzi told reporters as he arrived at an international conference being hosted by an Israeli think-tank in the city of Herzliya.

"The Indian government is amply apprised of all it needs to know about our reasons, as do many of our partners," he was quoted as saying by media reports.

A seething India has reportedly sought the intervention of the European Union on the issue.

The Supreme Court meanwhile has restrained the Italian Ambassador from leaving the country without its permission, taking exception to his government's refusal to send back the marines charged with the killing of the fishermen.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir issued notice to Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini and the two marines, Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone, in this regard.

The Supreme Court had earlier this year allowed the two marines to return to Italy in order to cast their votes in the February elections. However this now patently appears to have been a ruse, as the Italian government officially announced on Monday that the duo would remain in Italy and not return to India to face murder charges.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said in Parliament on Wednesday that Italy's action was "unacceptable"; and accused it of violating "every rule of diplomatic discourse". He threatened ''consequences for bilateral ties'' if the marines are not returned to stand trial in India.

Today a spokesperson for the ministry of external affairs said India will take further action in the case after a review of its ties with Italy.

"We will take further action that is appropriate taking into account all aspects of our relationship with Italy. As part of our ongoing efforts, stemming from PM's remarks in Parliament, we have initiated a study of our interactions with Italy. At the end of that internal process, we will take appropriate action," the spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin, said.

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