Ashton on Italian marines case: “Unacceptable to suggest Italy is a terrorist state”

“The accuse has enormous implications for Italy, and concerns the entire Union”

Italy cannot be accused of being a terrorist state, and the very idea worries the entire Union. During a hearing at the European Parliament, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said that the very idea of Italy being a terrorist state is “unacceptable”, referring to the suggestion by the Indian authorities that somehow the Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone could be connected with terrorism.

According to High Representative Ashton, the accuse “has enormous implications for Italy” but also for the entire Union. Baroness Ashton added she has sent a letter to Indian authorities to raise the question on the implications, for all countries engaged in anti-piracy activities, which could stem from the potential charges to Italian marines. “The charges of having committed a terrorist act for the marines which were involved in anti-piracy activities,” she explained, “has enormous implications for all the anti-piracy operations we are bringing about, together and individually.”

“This message has been sent today to Indian authorities by our delegation,” she added.