Marines row: Italian PM wants rapid solution

Paris: Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti addressed his country's parliament on Wednesday, a day after Italy's foreign minister resigned to protest against his government's decision to send two marines back to India to face trial in the deaths of two fishermen.

Addressing the case before the Italian Senate, Monti said he wanted a solution on the marines issue soon. "We have started a political dialogue, we have pinpointed a road towards a rapid solution, either negotiated or reached judicially, reorganising the judicial itinerary."

"We finally neutralised the Indian press and public opinion, to protect our compatriots and of our 483 businesses operating in India," he added.

Giulio Terzi made the surprise announcement about his resignation to Parliament on Tuesday after offering a report on the case of the marines to lawmakers. He denied the government had no knowledge of his 11 March decision not to send the two sailors back to face trial in Italy.

A career diplomat, Terzi said he was quitting in solidarity with the marines and because he disagreed with the government's decision to send them back but his "voice was not listened to". He also said wanted to safeguard Italy's image abroad.

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Monti expressed astonishment at the decision and said in a statement that he had not been informed ahead of time, even though they had met earlier in the day to discuss Terzi's report to lawmakers.

The sailors - Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone - were part of a military security team on a cargo ship when they fired at a fishing boat in 2012, killing two Indian fishermen. The marines said they mistook them for pirates.

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The marines had been allowed to return to Italy to vote in the 24-25 February national election and were scheduled to return to India on 22 March - as they had after being allowed to spend Christmas with the families in Italy.

Terzi announced on 11 March that they would not return to India, expressing concern that their rights were not being respected there.

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Italy has insisted that the shooting happened in international waters and that Rome should have jurisdiction.

Italy, however, sent them back last week, saying it had received written assurances that India would not impose the death penalty in the event of a conviction.

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Monti ended his speech to the Senate by "paying tribute again to our two marines and to the attitude of great responsibility that they have kept".

President Giorgio Napolitano has given Monti the country's foreign ministry portfolio.

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Monti's caretaker government remains in place until a new government can be formed following inconclusive national elections last month.


Centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani, who is in consultations on forming a new government, has declined comment on the case.