Admitting that relations with Italy have been ‘complicated’, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh hoped that the dropping of charges under the anti-piracy SUA law against the two Italian marines would be the ‘way forward’ and lead to expeditious resolution under the Indian legal process.
“The marines issue has complicated our relations with Italy. However, the fact that the charges under SUA have been dropped is an indication that there is a way forward and we are looking to resolve the matter as per our legal and judicial process as expeditiously as possible,” Sujatha said.
The safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA) law attracts death penalty as maximum punishment.