For over two years on the story of the two forgotten fusiliers in India we have been accustomed to hearing only words and promises every day without ever seeing concrete results.
A swing of declarations began on 22 March 2013 when Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were suddenly sent back to India after the world was announced that they would remain in Italy.
Words and only words from the phrase of Boniniana memory of the non-certainty of the innocence of the two marines, accompanied by the statements of Deputy Foreign Minister Pistilli who in those days spoke of "sharing with India" of the management of the case.
Not to mention the "axes up the sleeve" of the special envoy. de Mistura, of the words of Prime Minister Renzi that at the time of the settlement declared the priority commitment of the government to bring the two marines home and the sudden awakening from a sort of lethargy of the presidents of the defense and foreign commissions of the Chamber of Deputies Senate that after months of silence at the beginning of the year suddenly discovered the problem of the two marine fusiliers.
An overall approach to the story that had now accustomed all of us to be ready to listen to everything and the opposite of everything, but we never imagined having to read the phrase "This event changes the situation", referring to the serious illness that has suddenly struck Massimiliano Tower.
Foreign Minister Mogherini's words, the next high representative for European foreign policy, which leave us perplexed and in some respects worried when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as guarantor of Italians abroad in particular if in difficult conditions, it seems to admit that Italy decides to continue the path of internationalization and arbitration which is discussed in 11 in March 2013, only after Massimiliano Latorre has been hit by a serious illness.
Perhaps the minister wanted to say something else. Probably in the wake of an understandable emotion for the serious state of health of the Italian military has summed up a much more complex thought, otherwise we would think that if Latorre had not been affected by illness everything would have gone on without any difference from how until now run by three governments; wait and promises but nothing concrete.
Words that, though linked to the emotion leave a bitter taste. In fact, they confirm the long-held feeling that many of us have held on the lack of institutional attention towards two forgotten "hostile" soldiers.
Perhaps the Minister and the Prime Minister should make it clear to the Nation that at least this time it is not just words and declarations of intent, if only to renew the ethical values of an evolved society that does not live on bread alone!
Fernando Termentini
(photo: MAE archive)
