NEW DELHI, Feb 22 (IANS): Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura Wednesday expressed "terrible sadness" over the killing of two Indian fishermen but insisted their death took place in international waters.
"We do acknowledge and recognize that two Indian fishermen died. No one doubts it, and it is terribly sad," the minister said after talking with Indian officials here over the arrest of two Italian Marines on board an Italian ship who fired at the fishermen thinking they were pirates.
But he said the Feb 15 incident took place in international waters off Kerala "and investigation will ascertain the exact position" of the Italian ship which carried the Marines.
"We are taking it seriously. We are definitely expressing terrible sadness and regret over the loss of lives.
"Two Indian fishermen did die and they belonged to poor families of Kerala," he added.
