The External Affairs Ministry on Thursday dismissed suggestions of a quid pro quo deal between India and Italy in which New Delhi allegedly will go easy on the marines issues in return of Rome’s support to its bid for membership in the nuclear export control regime.
Italy, a member of all four nuclear exports control group, had in October blocked India’s application to join a key missile and UAV technology control committee. It is believed that this was done by Italy in protest of India’s arrest of two of its marines who are facing trial in India for killing two Kerala fishermen in Indian waters.
“It’s known that marines issue is in international arbitration under UNClOS (the United Nations Convention on the law of the Sea). They are two separate issues, each will be handled on its merits,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
Swarup’s reaction came following news reports that India was secretly negotiating a deal with Italy under which the Government will not object to any Italian plea in the case of marines.
Out of the two Italian marines one — Massimiliano latorre — is in Italy on medical grounds since September last year while Italy is making efforts in both Supreme Court and international arbitration court to allow Salvatore Girone, the other marine, also to return.
News reports claimed India and Italy are quietly working out an agreement under which Italy will commit to withdrawing objections to India’s membership to four key export control regimes - the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group. The decisions to admit new members in these have to be approved unanimously. And, India will not object to Italy’s plea before the Supreme Court to allow the second marines to return home.