NEW DELHI: Foreign minister S M Krishna on Friday said the visa issue was a \"closed chapter\" after Canada apologized for the language used by its officials against Indian security and intelligence establishments. The move came after the home ministry threatened retaliatory measures if Canada did not backtrack from its stand.
Canada\'s minister of citizenship and immigration Jason Kenney said in a statement, \"The government of Canada... deeply regrets the recent incident in which letters drafted by public service officials during routine visa refusals to Indian nationals cast false aspersions on the legitimacy of work carried out by Indian defence and security institutions, which operate under the framework of democratic processes and the rule of law.\"
He added, \"Canada has the highest regard for India, its government institutions and processes.\"
The apology came after the PMO took up the matter with the ministry of external affairs. The Candian high commissioner met MEA\'s secretary (west) Vivek Katju in the backdrop of an outrage in India over adverse comments made by Canadian high commission officials against Indian armed forces and intelligence establishment while rejecting visas of some senior serving and retired officials.
Terming the incident as \"unfortunate\", Kenney said the \"language or the unaccurate impression it has created, in no way reflects the policy or position of the government of Canada\". He added that the admissibility policy was under review.
Reacting to the statement, India said its visa row with Canada was a \"closed chapter\". Asked if the visa process to Canada would henceforth be a smooth affair, foreign minister S M Krishna said Canada was governed by its own procedures. There would be no quarrel between the two countries and the issue was a closed chapter, he added.
\"We have received a copy of the statement made by Jason Kenny, Canadian minister for citizenship. He has expressed high regards for India. They have deeply regretted the recent letter drafted by low level officials on routine visa applications casting aspersions on security forces,\" Krishna said.
\"They told us that this language in no way reflects the policy or perceptions of Canada about India. I think they have realised their mistakes. We should consider the chapter closed,\" the minister added.
The Canadian high commission, over the last few years, has denied visas to a number of senior serving and retired officials of the armed forces and intelligence establishment, claiming that their organisations or they themselves had served in sensitive areas like Jammu and Kashmir and engaged in violence and human rights violations.
These adverse comments had triggered an outrage here, with the home ministry threatening retaliation if no corrective steps were taken by Canada within a week.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com
Friday, May 28, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment