New Delhi:
Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Steffan de Mistura, who accompanied the two Italian marines - accused of killing two Indian fishermen - back to New Delhi today, said a potential diplomatic crisis has been avoided by the marines coming back to India.
Here are the highlights of what he said in his press conference:- The solution was triggered by a letter by Indian authorities that in this case there was no question of death penalty
- India's assurance enough to send marines back
- We took away suspension of affidavit and reinstated word of Italian diplomats which is sacred
- Marines in embassy will resume state as before
- Diplomatically we are starting again from where we were
- Italy demands a special court - urgent, quickly, expedited
- We all want justice. Official position of Rome remains the same
- Condole the fishermen's family on tragedy
- I met the families of fishermen so I would like to repeat on my own condolences about the tragedy
- I am sure you will realise we too feel the marines were doing their duty. Their families deserve to see the end of this process
- Atmosphere has been defused. Maintain position but will respect special court
- We still pursue our own judicial process
- India and Italy are creating a new approach on a case that is new to us
- Kerala should have not engaged
- Issue of jurisdiction and merit should have been considered by a court
- Have a wish that this court is set up in a matter of months and decides on the case