Mexico fights back in Canada visa 'war'

July 17 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Canadian embassy in Mexico City

The Mexican government has ruled Canadian diplomats would require visas to enter the country. The move is in response to the Canadian government’s demands announced earlier this week that Mexican visitors will require a Canadian visa to enter the country.

Mexico has joined the Czech Republic by retaliating against Canada visa system reforms and insisting visiting Canadians are now subject to visa requirements.

Mexican Foreign Secretary, Patricia Espinosa said: “I spoke strongly against the decision to require Mexicans to have visas to travel to the country.”

She made the announcement during a meeting with Canadian

Espinosa said: "Today, we have decided to suspend the agreement that allowed a visa exemption for official and diplomatic passport holders."

Espinosa's announcement came during a meeting in Washington with Canadian Foreign Secretary Lawrence Cannon and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The move is backed by Mexico's Opposition senator Graco Ramirez, of the Party of the Democratic Revolution. He told a national radio station that Mexico should react by imposing visas on Canadian visitors.

Ramirez said: "The principle of reciprocity should be used with great precision...without causing a diplomatic war."

"But at least Mexican authorities should have the decorum to respond firmly. If this treatment is going to happen, it should be reciprocal."

The Mexican government’s decision about visas will not affect Canadian tourists of which around 1.3 million visit Mexico annually. Tourism brings considerable revenue to the Mexican economy.

Meanwhile in Mexico City about 100 Mexicans intent on travelling to Canada camped outside the Canadian embassy earlier this week after the Canadian government’s new visa requirement came into power.

The following day around 1,000 people were at the embassy to submit Canadian visa applications.

The Canadian government announced July 12 that Mexican nationals would be subject to Canada visa restrictions for the first time.

Their decision was a response to a rapid influx of refugee claims made by Mexicans who want to make a permanent move to Canada.