Italy says differences with India remain unresolved on fishermen row

New Delhi, Feb 28 (ANI): Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said on Tuesday that the dispute between the two countries over the jurisdiction of legal process of two Italian marines, who have been alleged of killing two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala, was yet to be resolved.

Terzi, who met External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today, reiterated his government's position, saying the incident occurred in international waters, and hence, the two accused sailors should be tried under the international law of boats in high seas.

"Very frankly that the position of my government on the legal aspect of this issue is based on, in our opinion, on the international law of boats in the high seas in international water and there is a difference of opinion, which is not resolved concerning the jurisdiction, which should be applied on this specific case," said Terzi.

The Italian foreign minster was also accompanied by the families of the Italian sailors, currently in custody of Kerala police.

India has said that the two seamen, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, killed the two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala, and wants to try them under Indian law.

Terzi further said his government appreciated the Indian government's decision to include Italian observers in the investigation process.

"I explained to Minister Krishna as I did during the past days that we are appreciative for the cooperation that is developing between our countries also in following the judicial enquiry through the presence of some observers on the Italian side and the presence of a high level delegation here in Delhi over the last few days together with Under Secretary De Mistura," Terzi added.

The accused were part of a security detachment assigned to protect the Italian merchant vessel Enrica Lexie. Italy says the marines only fired into the water but Indian authorities say two men on the fishing boat were shot dead.

Italy began assigning military teams to protect its merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean last year after a series of attacks by Somali pirates on Italian ships. (ANI)