The United States on Friday expressed concern over the departure of Canadian diplomats from India and said it expects New Delhi to fulfill its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India after threatening to strip them of their diplomatic immunity by Friday, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said, amid a diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist.
“We are concerned about the withdrawal of Canadian diplomats from India in response to the Government of India’s call for Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India,” said Matthew Miller, spokesman for the State Department.
“Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground,” Miller added.
“We have urged the Indian government not to insist on a reduction in Canada’s diplomatic presence and to cooperate with the ongoing Canadian investigation,” the Foreign Ministry official said.
“We expect India to comply with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, including with regard to the privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of the diplomatic mission of Canada,” Miller said.
In New Delhi on Friday, the Foreign Ministry rejected Canada’s attempt to “portray” the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms.
India maintained that ensuring mutual diplomatic parity was in full accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Hours after New Delhi rejected Ottawa’s attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that India’s decision to lift the diplomatic immunity of 41 Canadian diplomats was a violation of the Vienna Convention and this should also concern all countries.
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