New Delhi: Stung by the strong Indian reaction to its decision not to send the two accused marines back to India for trial, Italy Wednesday said it was ready to negotiate the case on the basis of international law as the two were facing trial in the case in a court in Rome.
"The judgment by the Supreme Court of India on Jan 18 has denied Italian jurisdiction on the case and invited both countries to engage in a common effort based upon Article 100 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," a statement from the Italian embassy said.
The statement was in reaction to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's saying in parliament that Italy would have to face "consequences" for refusing to send back the two marines to face trial in India for killing two fishermen.
The Italian statement also said that Rome had done "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.
"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."
IANS
First Published: Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 19:02