France's relations with Mexico have been strained over Mexico's sentencing of a French woman to 60 years in prison on kidnapping charges. After her last appeal was rejected, she asked to serve out the sentence in France, a request Mexico rejected. This happened just at the start of the Year of Mexico in France, a year of cultural events sponsored by both governments.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the year would be dedicated to Cassez's cause; Mexico retaliated Tuesday by saying it would not participate if she was at all associated with the cultural events.
The question now is whether the row will move beyond the cultural realm, and into the international arena, with Mexico due to take over the reins of the G20 after France's presidency this year.
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