“Italy has stated its readiness to start negotiations on such basis. Since there has been no reaction from India in this regard we have come to the conclusion that it is appropriate to solve the legal dispute according to the international law.
“The Note Verbale sent by the Embassy to the external affairs ministry on March 11 was intended to give the opportunity to settle the dispute through the consensual means offered to the parties by the international law with the aim of defining a legally sound solution to the case.
“This is consistent with Italy's position since we have continuously advocated a settlement of the case according to the rules of international law on jurisdiction of the flag State and on functional immunity of State organs.
“Italy did everything we could to find an acceptable solution to such case, within the framework of our strong and friendly relations with India, and Italy will continue to do so.
“Legal proceedings against the two marines are still under way before the Court of Rome,” it said.
The issue has raised much political heat in India. Oommen Chandy, chief minister of Kerala to which state the two killed fishermen belong, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the return of two Italian marines.
“The prime minister's statement is very strong and we hope Italy will obey the Indian law,” Chandy told reporters.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley described Italy's decision not to return its marines as “enemy action” and urged India to “forget diplomacy” and take action.
Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley also said that the government should consider action against the Italian ambassador who had stood surety in the court to ensure the marines return to India.
“This is an outright fraud against the government of India and Supreme Court by a sovereign nation. This is a case of state-sponsored abduction,” Jaitley said.
