NEW DELHI/KOCHI: Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant’ Agatta expressed ‘condolences’ of his countrymen over the killing of the two fishermen.“Our sailor men in Kochi have been the victims of the same reason that caused the death of two Indian fishermen, the threat of piracy,” he said in New Delhi on Tuesday.According to official sources, there was no extensive discussion on the topic of the sailors during the talks of Terzi with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, except for an articulation of condolences and the stated position. “There was no talk of a political or diplomatic solution. They also acknowledge that it is now a legal matter, and the law of the land should proceed,” a senior official said.Terzi arrived in Kochi at 6.45 pm by a chartered flight of the Italian Air Force, A 319 J. The six-member team also has Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Staffan De Mistura and Italian Ambassador Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte and Consul General in Mumbai, Giampaolo Cuttillo. Terzi was accompanied by a team of businessmen, journalists and officials.Coming out after meeting the marines, Terzi did not talk to the Indian media but held a press briefing for the visiting Italian media team.Though the families of the two marines - Latore Massimilano and Salvatore Girone - were expected to accompany the minister to Kochi, they didn’t turn up. De Mistura told reporters that talks with the Indian External Affairs Minister earlier in the day were very fruitful.Terzi will leave for Vietnam on Wednesday. The team of officials did not meet the families of the two fishermen but instead offered their condolences.
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