Any initiative undertaken by the Indian authorities must have the “priority objective of ensuring the hostages’ safety”. This was Minister Terzi’s request of his Indian colleague S.M. Krishna in the course of a telephone conversation concerning the case of the two Italian tourists abducted in Orissa.
During the conversation Minister Krishna updated Terzi on the latest developments in the case, confirming the Indian authorities’ maximum commitment, at Federal and State level, to seeking a positive solution. The two ministers agreed to stay in close contact.
Terzi also reiterated Italy’s position on the case of the two servicemen being detained in Kerala. Judge Kollam today extended the incarceration of the two servicemen for another 14 days, and the Kerala High Court was expected to make a ruling on jurisdiction in the case, but the judges postponed the hearing to tomorrow to allow the two Italians’ lawyers time to prepare their case, which aims to demonstrate the inapplicability of the Indian law in international waters.
