Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi resigned on Tuesday, protesting government’s U-turn to send back to India two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen to defuse the raging diplomatic row.
Tersi’s decision to quit came four days after the Italian government reversed its earlier decision not to send back to India, Massimiliano Latore and Salvatore Girone, who faced murder charges for shooting dead two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast February last year.
Italy had first reneged on its assurance to Indian Supreme Court of sending back the two marines but later backtracked after both the Indian government and the apex court stepped up the heat amid New Delhi’s warning of downgrading ties with Rome.
Terzi announced his resignation in Parliament. ‘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 said.
Tersi’s decision to quit came four days after the Italian government reversed its earlier decision not to send back to India, Massimiliano Latore and Salvatore Girone, who faced murder charges for shooting dead two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast February last year.
Italy had first reneged on its assurance to Indian Supreme Court of sending back the two marines but later backtracked after both the Indian government and the apex court stepped up the heat amid New Delhi’s warning of downgrading ties with Rome.
Terzi announced his resignation in Parliament. ‘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 said.