Marines issue: Italy upset over Ban’s remark

On Wednesday U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon angered politicians in Rome by saying it was "better for the question to be addressed bilaterally, rather than with the involvement of the United Nations."

New Delhi: Italian government envoy Staffan de Mistura, second from right, accompanied by Italian Ambassador to India Daniele Mancini, second from left, leaves Supreme Court in New Delhi on Monday. India acceded to Italys request and said Friday it wont invoke an anti-piracy law carrying the death penalty when it tries two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in February 2012. PTI Photo (PTI2_10_2014_000069B)

Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said on Thursday she expected the United Nations to take its side in the case of two marines accused of murder in India.

Italy has won support from the European Union and NATO, but on Wednesday U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon angered politicians in Rome by saying it was “better for the question to be addressed bilaterally, rather than with the involvement of the United Nations.” Ms Bonino, speaking in the Italian Senate, said her government “greatly regretted and was very strongly perplexed” by Mr Ban’s remarks. She accused him of simply taking the middle ground between Rome and Delhi, ignoring two sides’ arguments.

Italy’s marines were arrested in India in February 2012, on suspicion of killing two Indian fishermen while serving on an anti-piracy mission on an Italian oil tanker in the Indian Ocean. They have since been released on bail, but not yet formally charged.