Minister Bonino to India: Inconceivable to accuse a EU Member States of terrorism

The Foreign Affairs Minister said the hypothesis of trying the two Italian marines under and anti-piracy act left her “dumbfounded”. The Indian Supreme Court is to decide within a week.

India is trying to discredit Italy – and the thing left her “dumbfounded and outraged”: Emma Bonino commented the decision of India to try to prosecute the Italian marines under the new provision of the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act (SUA), without even asking for the death sentence. It is not acceptable to accuse a EU Member State of terrorism, especially when it is the one that is going to lead the Union in few months: our Foreign Affairs Minister is probably going to discuss the issue during the forthcoming Foreign Affairs Committee.

No longer “solely” a matter of innocence, as the trial involves Italian marines Massimiliano Lattore and Domenico Girone: the EU image is at stake too, said Minister Bonino.

The idea of accusing the two Italian marines of terrorism is “inconceivable,” said Minister Bonino, “as it implies that Italy is a terrorist country. No way. Italy is going to be the next Member State to lead the Union.” The Indian Supreme Court is to decide on 18 February, and “we wish they could acknowledge this hypothesis is completely unacceptable and inconceivable,” added Bonino. “Everything is possible,” she underlined, “Everything is up for discussion, even though we think it is better not to show all our cards right now.”