Amid the ongoing diplomatic tension between India and Canada, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said yesterday that India is looking at resuming visa services for Canadians "very soon" if it sees progress in the safety of its diplomats in Canada. However, Jaishankar asserted that the Indian government's decision to ensure parity in diplomatic presence with that country is in line with the Vienna Convention.
Jaishankar further explained that the concern over the safety and security of its diplomats in Canada was the primary reason behind India temporarily stopping the visa services a few weeks ago.
On resumption of visa services for Canadians, government sources said India is reviewing the security situation in Canada that had led to the suspension of the services.
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What all did Jaishankar say?
On resuming the visa services, Jaishankar said, "If we see progress there, I would very much like to resume the issue of visas. My hope would be that it would be something which should happen very very soon."
"Some weeks ago, we stopped issuing visas in Canada because it was no longer safe for our diplomats to go to work to issue visas. So their safety and security was the primary reason we had to temporarily stop the issuance of visas," he added.
"My expectation is that the situation would improve in the sense that our people would have greater confidence in being able to do their basic duty as diplomats because as you know, ensuring the safety and security of diplomats is the most fundamental aspect of the Vienna Convention," Jaishankar said.
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"And right now, that is what has in many ways been challenged in Canada that our people are not safe, our diplomats are not safe," he said, adding that India would start the visa services if there is progress in the safety of its diplomats in Canada.
He said the "big concern" people have is regarding visas.
Diplomatic parity in line with Vienna Convention
India has rejected Canada's contention that the move to withdraw the 41 Canadian diplomats amounted to a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Referring to the issue of diplomatic parity, Jaishankar said, "It is very much provided for by the Vienna Convention, which is the relevant international rule on this."
"There is this whole issue of parity ... how many diplomats are there of one country versus how many diplomats are there of the other country. Parity is very much provided for by the Vienna Convention, which is the relevant international rule on this," he said.
"But in our case, we invoked parity because we had concerns about the continuous interference in our affairs by Canadian personnel," the minister said.
India on Friday rejected Canada's attempt to "portray" the withdrawal of the 41 Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms and asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
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India's comments came after Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, announcing the return of the diplomats from India, described New Delhi's action as "contrary to international law" and in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Joly also described India's actions as "unreasonable and escalatory".
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said the bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India and their continued interference in India's internal affairs warranted a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa.
