UN court order in Italian Marines case in India’s favour, Italy presenting distorted version: Govt sources

New Delhi: Top Indian government sources on Monday told ABP News that Italian government was presenting distorted version of United Nations court order in Italian Marines case. According to the government sources, the decision of the court was in India’s favour. The sources said the Marines would have to come to India when the Supreme Court of India summons them. “Italian government is presenting distorted version of UN Court order. To the contrary, court has clearly stated that Marines will have to hand over passports to Italian Government and will have to visit India as always, as and when summoned by the Supreme Court,” a top government sources told ABP News. The source said further that the conditions of bail would be set by the Supreme Court as written in the UN order. The sources said the Marines were only allowed to go to Italy to meet their families on humanitarian ground. Italian marine Salvatore Girone, one of the two marines facing murder charges for killing two Indian fishermen, will be able to return to Italy while his case is subject to an arbitration procedure, Italian Foreign Ministry said today, citing an order of the UN's Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. The Government has been working to submit the whole matter to international arbitration and, in this framework, bringing home the two Riflemen Marina. The announced order paves the way for this result. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Girone is one of two Italian marines - on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' - accused by India of killing two of its fishermen during an anti-piracy mission in 2012 off the Kerala coast after mistaking them for pirates. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. The other marine, Massimiliano Latorre, is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014. The Italian government has taken the marines case to international arbitration after repeated delays in the trial in India. According to Italian Foreign Ministry, the government will immediately start consultations with India that the conditions to give effect to the decision of the arbitral tribunal are quickly defined and agreed.