Miffed over India's handling of the trial of its two marines on murder charges, Italy has said it would again knock the doors the UN, the EU and even the Commonwealth to press New Delhi to deal with the case quickly.
Italy accused Indian authorities of "ambiguous and unreliable" behaviour after India's Supreme Court yesterday postponed till February 24 the hearing of the case involving marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone.
The families of the two marines were frustrated with a series of delays in the case that has been percolating without charges for two years, Italian media reported today.
Foreign Minister Emma Bonino has said she would be urging a range of allies, from the NATO military alliance to the UN as well as the European Union, to press the Indian government to deal with the situation.
The case is "not bilateral" but has international importance and thus, requires a coordinated response, she told local media.
"We can't go and get them by military force" but "several initiatives" are open to the incoming government, Bonino said.
The foreign minister said Rome was even considering asking the Commonwealth group of countries to take an interest in the case. The Commonwealth is a grouping of over 50 nations most of which were former colonies of the British empire, including India.
The marines "cannot be victims of delays and complexities" amid continued uncertainty whether India will press terrorism charges, Bonino was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Earlier this month, Italy had petitioned the UN over the trial of its two marines in India under a strict anti-piracy law. However, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked Rome to resolve the issue bilaterally.
Italy yesterday recalled its Ambassador in India Daniele Mancini for "consultations". Indian Ambassador in Rome Basant Kumar Gupta was also summoned to the Foreign Ministry to convey Italy's "dismay" over the prolongation of the trial.
Defence Minister Mario Mauro said Indian authorities have hit "the limit" of Italian patience in the case. "This measure is the limit and what's even bigger is the indignation that has hit the whole nation and cannot fail to spread to the entire international community," said Mauro.
"There is no justice in this case. We are faced with ambiguous, unreliable behaviour on the part of the Indian authorities," he said.
The EU, which is backing Italy, said the case threatens the future of anti-piracy operations.
