Italian PM working to restore India ties post Marine order

DELHI: Indicating that bilateral ties had seen a trough following the case against two Italian marines who shot dead two Indian fishermen, talian prime minister Matteo Renzi has said that his government was now working to restore “excellent relations with India” following the verdict of the Hague Tribunal.

Italian news agency ANSA quoted Renzi has saying in Rome on Thursday that The Hague arbitration tribunal’s decision to allow marine Salvatore Girone to return to Italy vindicated his government’s strategy, adding that his executive was working to restore good relations with India.

“Let’s celebrate the extraordinary news coming from The Hague,” ANSA quoted Renzi as saying. “The international tribunal has ruled that our marine Salvatore Girone can await the sentence in Italy. It is a very important step that shows how our government’s strategy was correct after the clear errors made at the start of this sad case. Now we are working to restore the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation with the Indian people and government,” he said.

On the same issue, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi that the government will soon approach the SC along with Italy for relaxation of Girone’s bail conditions. He is held in India on murder charges.

“As you know the tribunal has said both India and Italy should approach the SC to relax bail conditions for Girone. That will happen in the near future.”