Rome, May 31 (IANS) There was no reason for “triumphalism” as India was still violating Italian law, Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said after an Indian court granted bail to two Italian marines charged with murdering two fishermen.
“There are no reasons for triumphalism because Indians are still infringing the Italian law,” Terzi was quoted as saying Wednesday by ANSA news agency.
“The Indian behaviour not only is against the principles of international law…”, the minister said. India was also compromising “the anti-piracy initiatives on the international level”, the minister stated.
“Thus we will evaluate along with Defense Minister Giampaolo Di Paola the concrete meaning and conditions of India’s decision,” he added.
The marines, Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone, were granted bail by court in India’s Kerala state Wednesday on the condition that each of them would deposit Rs.1 crore as personal bond and provide two Indian sureties.
The court asked the two marines to surrender their passports and asked them not to leave the area falling under the jurisdiction of Kochi police commissioner. They were told to report to the police commissioner everyday between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Two Indian fishermen — Ajesh Binki, 25, and Gelastine, 45 — were allegedly mistaken as pirates and shot dead off Alappuzha in Kerala by the marines, who were serving as the security crew aboard Italian cargo vessel Enrica Lexie.
The two accused have been in judicial custody since Feb 20.
The incident has sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries, as Italy insisted that the marines should be tried in Rome because the incident occurred on international waters while India claimed it took place in its territorial waters, reported Xinhua.
Relatives of the two marines have welcomed the Indian court’s decision.
“This is great news. They are serene, and sounded positive for the first time since their 100-day imprisonment. We hope they can come home soon,” said one of Latorre’s nephews, Christian D’Addario.
One of the marines’ lawyers, Rajendran Nair, reportedly said the pair could be released as early as on Thursday, after precautionary conditions set by the court are met.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti last week called Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and reportedly asked him to ensure the release of the marines.
Under Indian Penal Code, the marines could be jailed for life or get capital punishment if convicted of murder charges by the court.
