'Would like to return as a tourist'

'Would like to return as a tourist'

“I would like to return to Kerala as a tourist and not as a diplomat next time,” said Italian Consul-General, Giampaolo Cutillo.  He was speaking to Express at the Eighth Bastion Hotel, before the Italian marines left for New Delhi after their 11-month stay in Kerala.

Reflecting on the 11 months of legal wrangle, he said that his stay in Kerala has been of a  diplomatic nature.

“I was here to assist the detained Italian citizens. It was a different experience altogether. Sometimes we felt tired when our petitions got dismissed. But in such situation, we were optimistic that things would turn favourable for us one day. I would like to return to Kerala in the future, but as a tourist. Kerala is a good place and the people here are very cooperative. There are lots of places worthy of a visit here,” Cutillo said.

He said he is very happy with the decision of the Supreme Court which has given a lease of hope to Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Lattore. “It took almost an year to get confirmation that Kerala had no jurisdiction in the Enrica Lexie case. We suggested the same right from the beginning. We hope that now with the special court being set up for the case, the legal procedures can be completed in no time. We are optimistic that a favourable decision would be taken,” he said.

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