President Giorgio Napolitano said
he "honoured" two Italian marines who have been "unjustly held"
in India for over two years for allegedly killing two Indian
fishermen during an anti-piracy mission while speaking at a
ceremony for Liberation Day Friday.
The head of State noted that the pair were being kept "far
from their families and homeland".
Napolitano's comments came a day after the Italian
government announced it was opening a new phase in the saga of
the two marines, replacing its special envoy on the case and
sending its ambassador back to New Delhi to help steer the case
towards arbitration.
Defence Minister Federica Mogherini told the Senate Rome
has sent a note to New Delhi as it opens an "international
procedure" that, unless the Indians cooperate, would inevitably
lead to arbitration by an international body such as the UN.
Rome has decided to send its ambassador to India back to
New Delhi to mark the "fresh stage" in its efforts to have
Massimiliano Latoree and Salvatore Girone returned, Mogherini
added.
Daniele Mancini will oversee the "new phase" of
internationalising the case, she said.
Special envoy Staffan de Mistura has done his job and new
figures are needed now that Rome is taking the case to the
international level, Mogherini told the Senate.
Rome does not consider the India proceedings, which have
yet to lead to trial, "valid", she said. "We do not accept a
(future) Indian trial whose validity we do not recognise,"
Mogherini said.
Latorre and Girone are still awaiting trial over the deaths
of Valentine (aka Gelastine) and Ajesh Binki, whom they
allegedly mistook for pirates.
Italy is currently appealing to India's top court against
NIA anti-terrorism prosectors taking the case. Rome has also
requested the pair be allowed to return home and the whole case
be dropped.
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