Italy’s Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi on Tuesday resigned over his Government’s decision to send two Marines back to India to face trial in the deaths of two fishermen. “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,” he told Parliament.
“I am resigning because for 40 years I have maintained, and still maintain, that the reputation of the country, the armed forces and Italian diplomacy, should be safeguarded,” he said, adding that he was doing so in solidarity with the Italian marines and because his decision to keep them in Italy had been overruled.
The Indian Government, which last week issued orders to immigration authorities to prevent Rome’s ambassador to New Delhi from leaving the country, hailed Italy’s U-turn as a victory for diplomacy.
Italy sent the marines back to India last week, saying it had received written assurances from India that their rights would be respected. The Marines were part of a military security team on a cargo ship when they fired at a fishing boat in 2012, killing two Indian fishermen.
The marines said they mistook them for pirates. Italy says it should have jurisdiction over the case and disputes India’s contention that the shooting happened in Indian waters.