EU warns India over bar on Italian ambassador
20 March 2013 7:02 AM IST
India would be breaking international law if it stops Italy’s ambassador from leaving the country in a dispute over two Italian marines charged with killing two Indian fishermen, the European Union said on Tuesday.
The statement was the bloc’s most forceful intervention yet in the festering dispute over the marines which has soured relations between India and EU member Italy.
The Supreme Court last week temporarily barred the envoy, Daniele Mancini, from leaving after Rome refused to send the marines back to India to face trial following a home visit.
The marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, part of a security team protecting a tanker from pirates, are accused of shooting the two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala in February last year.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton noted the Indian court’s ruling about the ambassador ‘with concern’.
Ashton regarded the 1961 Vienna Convention, which sets rules for diplomatic relations, as a cornerstone of the international legal order that should be respected at all times, he said in a statement.
‘Any limitations to the freedom of movement of the ambassador of Italy to India would be contrary to the international obligations established under this convention,’ he added.
‘(Ashton) continues to hope that a mutually acceptable solution can be found through dialogue and in respect of international rules and encourages the parties to explore all avenues to that effect,’ the statement said. The EU statement echoed comments by Italy’s foreign ministry on Monday that the Indian court’s decision violated diplomatic immunity law.
ROW OVER MANCINI
NO COUNTRY SHOULD TAKE INDIA FOR GRANTED: SONIA
Slamming Italy for its refusal to send back the two marines charged in the fishermen killing case, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday asserted that no country will be allowed to take India for granted. ‘The defiance of the Italian government on the question of the two marines and its betrayal of a commitment to our Supreme Court is outright unacceptable,’ Gandhi said, addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party.
‘No country can, should, or will be allowed to take India for granted. All means must be pursued to ensure that the commitment made by the Italian government to our Supreme Court is honoured,’ Gandhi said in four-page speech at the CPP.
Her remarks are significant as Congress was under attack from the Opposition, which alluding to Gandhi’s Italian origin, has been targeting the government questioning why accused having links with Italy escape Indian laws starting from the time of the Bofors scandal.
Sources in the party have maintained that Gandhi was keen that the government did not appear soft on the Italian marines issue. After withholding posting of its Ambassador-designate Basant Kumar Gupta to Rome, government had on Monday said further steps will be taken after completion of a study on the bilateral ties with Italy.
The statement was the bloc’s most forceful intervention yet in the festering dispute over the marines which has soured relations between India and EU member Italy.
The Supreme Court last week temporarily barred the envoy, Daniele Mancini, from leaving after Rome refused to send the marines back to India to face trial following a home visit.
The marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, part of a security team protecting a tanker from pirates, are accused of shooting the two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala in February last year.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton noted the Indian court’s ruling about the ambassador ‘with concern’.
Ashton regarded the 1961 Vienna Convention, which sets rules for diplomatic relations, as a cornerstone of the international legal order that should be respected at all times, he said in a statement.
‘Any limitations to the freedom of movement of the ambassador of Italy to India would be contrary to the international obligations established under this convention,’ he added.
‘(Ashton) continues to hope that a mutually acceptable solution can be found through dialogue and in respect of international rules and encourages the parties to explore all avenues to that effect,’ the statement said. The EU statement echoed comments by Italy’s foreign ministry on Monday that the Indian court’s decision violated diplomatic immunity law.
ROW OVER MANCINI
- The statement of European Union was the bloc’s most forceful intervention yet in the festering dispute over the marines which has soured relations between India and EU member Italy
- EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton regarded the 1961 Vienna Convention, which sets rules for diplomatic relations, as a cornerstone of the international legal order that should be respected at all times
- The SC last week temporarily barred envoy, Daniele Mancini, from leaving India
NO COUNTRY SHOULD TAKE INDIA FOR GRANTED: SONIA
Slamming Italy for its refusal to send back the two marines charged in the fishermen killing case, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday asserted that no country will be allowed to take India for granted. ‘The defiance of the Italian government on the question of the two marines and its betrayal of a commitment to our Supreme Court is outright unacceptable,’ Gandhi said, addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party.
‘No country can, should, or will be allowed to take India for granted. All means must be pursued to ensure that the commitment made by the Italian government to our Supreme Court is honoured,’ Gandhi said in four-page speech at the CPP.
Her remarks are significant as Congress was under attack from the Opposition, which alluding to Gandhi’s Italian origin, has been targeting the government questioning why accused having links with Italy escape Indian laws starting from the time of the Bofors scandal.
Sources in the party have maintained that Gandhi was keen that the government did not appear soft on the Italian marines issue. After withholding posting of its Ambassador-designate Basant Kumar Gupta to Rome, government had on Monday said further steps will be taken after completion of a study on the bilateral ties with Italy.
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