M A I N   N E W S

Keep word or be ready for consequences: PM to Italy
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 13
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today made it clear to Italy that there would be ‘consequences’ for bilateral relations if it did not fulfil its commitment to send back the two marines to India and face trial for the murder of two Indian fishermen.

India’s Stand Rome’s refusal to send the marines back to India is not by any standards in the interest of bilateral relationship Italy’s action has violated every rule of diplomatic discourse It has called into question solemn commitments given by accredited representatives of a sovereign government to SC There are indications that New Delhi would retaliate only after March 22 when the parole of the marines expires

The options Ask its Ambassador-designate Basant Kumar Gupta not to take charge of his assignment in Rome pending an amicable settlement of the dispute Scale down its diplomatic presence in Italy and ask Rome to do vice versa Exclude Italy from all defence and economic contracts Review all existing contracts with Italy, including the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal

Ready to negotiate: Italy Sensing the outrage in India over its action, Italy said it was ready to negotiate the case on the basis of international law as the two marines were facing trial in the case in a court in Rome

“Our government has insisted that the Italian authorities respect the undertakings they have given to the Supreme Court and return the two accused persons to stand trial in India,” he told both Houses of Parliament after members sharply criticised the government for reposing undue faith in the Italian government.

Some of the members went to the extent of demanding the arrest of Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini for not honouring the undertaking he had given to the apex court that the marines would return to India after casting ballots in the February 24-25 elections.

Amid indications that New Delhi would retaliate against Italy only after March 22 when the four-week parole of the two marines expires, Singh said Rome’s refusal to send the navy men back to India was not by any standards in the interest of bilateral relationship which has to function on the basis of trust. Italy’s action violated every rule of diplomatic discourse and called into question solemn commitments given by accredited representatives of a sovereign government to the Supreme Court, the PM said in his strongly worded statement.

Sensing the outrage in India over its action, Italy, meanwhile, said it was ready to negotiate the case on the basis of international law as the two marines were facing trial in the case in a court in Rome.

As top officials considered various diplomatic and legal options available to India, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said New Delhi would await a response from Italy before taking call on future course of action.

On his part, the Italian envoy, who is in the eye of a storm, denied retracting from any commitment, saying his affidavit in the apex court could not be separated from all other orders, suggestions, proposals and ideas that his country had conveyed to India. India and Italy were friendly countries and not ‘enemy’ and Rome wanted to resolve the issue by consensual meanings.

Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy today met the PM and conveyed the outrage of the people of his state over Italy’s refusal to send back the marines who had killed two fishermen from the state in February last year.

The diplomatic options that India could consider include: asking its Ambassador-designate Basant Kumar Gupta not to take charge of his assignment in Rome pending an amicable settlement of the dispute; scale down its diplomatic presence in Italy and asked Rome to do vice versa; exclude Italy from all defence and economic contracts; and review all existing contracts with Italy, including the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal.

In fact, pressure is also mounting on the government to declare the Italian envoy persona non-grata and ask him to leave this country for reneging on his undertaking given to the apex court. But New Delhi cannot ignore the fact that the ambassador enjoys diplomatic immunity under the Vienna convention.

However, former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal was of the view that India must first explore all avenues before taking any extreme step while former High Commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarthy said India should wait for a satisfactory response from Rome for a week otherwise initiate action against the Italian envoy.