Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
India

UN Tribunal Asks India, Italy To Suspend Trial Of Italian Marines

Darpan News Desk IANS, 24 Aug, 2015 11:13 AM
    A UN tribunal on Monday asked India and Italy to "suspend" ongoing court proceedings in the Italian marines case and not initiate new ones that could "aggravate" the dispute. India said it will abide by the tribunal's decisions.
     
    The 21-member International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, based in German port town of Hamburg, ruled that it would not take action over the 2012 killing of two Indian fishermen - an incident that sparked a diplomatic dispute between Italy and India.
     
    It also asked both two countries to submit the initial report in the entire incident by September 24.
     
    The court, which is mandated by the UN, invited both parties to "suspend all court proceedings and shall refrain from initiating new ones which might aggravate or extend the dispute submitted to the... arbitral tribunal or might jeopardise or prejudice the carrying out of any decision which the arbitral tribunal may render".
     
    The tribunal issued the ruling with 15 in favour and six against.
     
    External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a statement: "We have just received the order from the International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas in the Enrica Lexie incident in which Italy had approached the Tribunal for two provisional measures: that India should refrain from taking or enforcing any judicial or administrative measures against the two Italian marines and from exercising any form of jurisdiction over the incident; and for the return of Sgt. Salvatore Girone to Italy and continued stay of Sgt. Massimiliano Latorre in Italy throughout the proceedings of the Annex VII Arbitral Tribunal.
     
    "While we are studying the judgment in detail, it is clear that the Tribunal did not consider the two provisional measures sought by Italy to be appropriate as that would have pre-judged the merits of the case and would not have equally preserved the rights of both parties until the constitution of the Annex VII Tribunal under UNCLOS, which will decide the issue of jurisdiction."
     
    He said the tribunal has instead prescribed a provisional measure in which both Italy and India should suspend all court proceedings and refrain from initiating new one.
     
    "As a state party to UNCLOS and as a responsible member of the international community that has consistently stood by its international obligations, India will continue to abide by the Tribunal's decisions, including the present one on provisional measures," said Swarup.
     
    The two Italian marines serving aboard oil tanker Enrica Lexie as part of an anti-piracy mission allegedly killed two Indian fishermen off India's Kerala state.
     
    India detained the two marines and a court case is pending, while Italy has challenged India's jurisdiction over the case.
     
    Italy had asked the court to allow Girone to be returned to Italy from India and for Latorre, who was granted temporary leave by India for medical treatment last year, to remain in his country.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    AAP leader Alka Lamba attacked, Party Points Finger at BJP

    AAP leader Alka Lamba attacked, Party Points Finger at BJP
    A 19-year-old has been arrested for throwing a stone at AAP legislator Alka Lamba during her anti-drug drive here on Sunday, police said.

    AAP leader Alka Lamba attacked, Party Points Finger at BJP

    Another 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' Tale Unfolds, Of Salman Ahmed Left Back In Pakistan

    Another 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' Tale Unfolds, Of Salman Ahmed Left Back In Pakistan
    Another 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' tale is unfolding as 24-year-old Salman Ahmed too needs India's assistance to get back home - after over two decades.

    Another 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' Tale Unfolds, Of Salman Ahmed Left Back In Pakistan

    India Working To Bring Back Gita, Locate Family: Sushma Swaraj

    India Working To Bring Back Gita, Locate Family: Sushma Swaraj
    Sushma Swaraj tweeted that during the past few days, "four families from Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand and UP have claimed Gita as their daughter" and that she has requested the chief ministers of the respective states to "verify and report".

    India Working To Bring Back Gita, Locate Family: Sushma Swaraj

    Four Held For Helping Pakistani Terrorist

    Four Held For Helping Pakistani Terrorist
    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) made the arrests after Usman alias Qasim Khan was brought to the valley to identify those who helped him reach Udhampur where he was caught. 

    Four Held For Helping Pakistani Terrorist

    BJP Clarifies On Naga Peace Accord After Government Accused Of Secrecy

    BJP Clarifies On Naga Peace Accord After Government Accused Of Secrecy
    The Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of signing the peace accord without taking any stakeholder into confidence, and overlooking the Constitution in doing so.

    BJP Clarifies On Naga Peace Accord After Government Accused Of Secrecy

    Modi Overlooked Constitution On Naga Peace Accord: Congress

    Modi Overlooked Constitution On Naga Peace Accord: Congress
    Accusing the BJP-led central government of signing the Naga peace accord without taking any stakeholder into confidence, the Congress on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi overlooked the constitution in doing so.

    Modi Overlooked Constitution On Naga Peace Accord: Congress