The Secretary General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Michele Valensise summoned today the Indian ambassador to Italy, Basant Kumar Gupta, to the foreign ministry in Rome to express the Italian government’s surprise and deep disappointment at the latest deferral by the Indian Supreme Court of the case of Italian Marines Latorre and Girone. Within the same context, the Italian ambassador in New Delhi, Mancini, was called home for consultation by the same Italian government.
The delays by the Indian judiciary authorities, at a distance of two years from the incident, the Secretary General asserted, is unacceptable; they are an indication of India’s wish to postpone the matter beyond all limits, despite the compelling stances expressed by many international organisations. Ambassador Valensise confirmed Italy’s intention to proceed with renewed vigour in its efforts in all forums to protect the position of its Marines and to insist on respect for international law. Ambassador Gupta gave his assurance that the Indian authorities would be informed of the message without delay.
