A fresh Italian proposal to
break the impasse on two marines held in India for over three
years in the shooting deaths of two Indian fishermen "has been
received and is currently being studied by our legal experts,"
Foreign Ministry Director-General for the western hemisphere
Navtej Singh Sarna told ANSA Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said last Thursday that
the prolonged failure to resolve the case of the pair being held
since an international anti-piracy mission in February 2012 is
"unacceptable".
"Contacts continue between the two governments in search of
a negotiated solution," Gentiloni said of the situation facing
Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who shot the
fishermen after allegedly mistaking them for pirates.
However, "the drawn-out nature of the matter is
unacceptable" and a solution needs to be found "shortly", the
minister added.
To this end Gentiloni said he had sought new intervention
by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who "intends to do it in
the coming weeks".
The case has led to diplomatic tension between the two
countries, with Italy arguing that the marines should not be
tried in India as the case falls outside its jurisdiction.
Earlier this month a special tribunal established to try
the servicemen postponed proceedings until July pending the
outcome of their appeal to the Indian Supreme Court against the
involvement of NIA anti-terror police in the investigation.
Latorre is currently in Italy recovering from heart surgery
but is due to return to India in April.
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