Italian Foreign Minister quits over marines’ return to India
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

I resign in contention with the decision to send the marines back to India. The misgivings I expressed had no effect on the decision taken. — Giulio Terzi, Italian Foreign Minister

New Delhi, March 26
Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi today resigned following criticism of the government’s decision to send back two Italian marines to India for trial into the killing of Indian fishermen.

“I resign in contention with the decision to send the marines back to India,” he told Italian Parliament, becoming a casualty of the tense stand-off with New Delhi.

Terzi said he was resigning because for 40 years he had maintained that the reputation of the country, the armed forces and Italian diplomacy must be safeguarded.

Terzi had ruled out his resignation just three days ago, when Rome had decided to send the two marines back to India. It was learnt that he was vehemently opposed to sending the marines back.

Marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were permitted to return home by the Supreme Court to vote in the February 24-25 elections following an undertaking given by Italian Ambassador that they would return to face the trial after their four-week parole. On March 11, however, Italy informed India that the two marines would not be sent back and would be tried in an Italian court.

Rome has been arguing that the two marines killed the Indian fishermen mistaking them for pirates in international waters and, therefore, they can’t be tried under Indian laws. New Delhi contends that the shooting incident took place in Indian waters and India has every right to conduct the trial on its territory.

Italy’s refusal to send the two men angered not only the government in New Delhi but also the Supreme Court, which asked the authorities to restrain the Italian envoy from leaving the country.

India was also contemplating declaring the Italian envoy persona non grata and taking other diplomatic measures when Italy, in a dramatic U-turn, sent the marines back on March 22, just hours before their four-week parole was to end, bringing the diplomatic row to an end.