Vienna Convention

Canada has accused India of violating the Vienna Convention after India had asked for a reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats posted in India.

Key Highlights:

• The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is an international treaty signed in 1961.
• To put forth a framework for diplomatic interactions between independent nations and aims to ensure the development of friendly relations among nations.
• Signed by: At present 193 countries are party to the convention.
• The convention formalizes the longstanding practice of diplomatic immunity. It grants diplomatic missions privileges that enable diplomats to perform their functions without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country.
• India has said that its actions are as per provisions of Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR).
• Article 11.1 pertains to the size of international missions within other countries.
• It provides the receiving state the right to limit the size of a diplomatic mission to what it considers reasonable and normal.

NOTE:

•  Article 11: If there is no specific agreement on the number of diplomats allowed in a mission, the receiving State (host country) can set limits.
• The host country can determine the reasonable and normal size of a diplomatic mission.
• This determination can be made based on the circumstances and conditions in the host country and the specific needs of the mission.