“A new phase has begun in the case of the marines, with the launch of an international process”, Minister for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini announced during a joint briefing in the Senate with Minister for Defence Roberta Pinotti. “On 18 April Italy sent a note verbal to the Indian authorities, the fifth in two months, which was received in New Delhi on 21 April, in which we reconfirm recourse to the functional immunity” of the two marines and to international law, Mogherini explained. She pointed out that “after two years there is still disagreement on jurisdiction; disagreement that I had occasion to note also in The Hague on 25 March”.
In our note, “we called for the launch of an exchange of views on the dispute and our marines’ return to Italy. In the case that an acceptable solution is not achieved by this route within a reasonable lapse of time, it will be necessary to make recourse to international resolution of the dispute on the basis of international law”, the minister added, thereby paving the way for international arbitration. This phase “completes the efforts of Staffan de Mistura, whom I wish to thank in the name of the government for the tireless dedication with which he has followed the situation”.
New Phase
“What is needed are new participants; we are selecting a panel of experts to be led by a coordinator”, to pursue the new phase, the chief diplomat added. This was “a decision that was agreed on with de Mistura, who took part in drafting the transition, which is the fruit of his labours”, the minister specified.“We have decided to send Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini back to New Delhi to monitor this new phase”, the minister concluded.
