By Sumayya
ANKARA — Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is starting a “strategic partnership” (special relationship) with Turkiye to help secure a free-trade deal.
Carney arrived in Ankara overnight for the very first official bilateral (two-country) visit by a Canadian prime minister to Turkiye.
In a shared statement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two leaders said they are also looking to approve an “air
transportation agreement.” This deal could lead to more direct airplane flights. The agreement also promises to make deeper
people-to-people connections with Turkiye. Carney has also looked for this kind of setup with the European Union to give more
freedom to tourists, workers, and students.
The statement noted that Canada and Turkiye share common values, which include “human rights, individual liberties, democracy
and the rule of law.”
The Erdogan government is facing a lot of close attention from other countries around the world right now because of reports that
officials are mistreating LGBTQ+ organizers in the country.
