OTTAWA, Jan 30, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Canada announced Monday it would no longer

bar certain arms exports to Turkey, a move that comes approximately a week
after Ankara ratified Sweden's NATO membership.

Permits for military items and certain types of weapons destined for Turkey
"will now be reviewed on a case-by-case basis," the Canadian government said
in a notice to exporters.

It declared that the denial policy on exports was "no longer in place."

Canada officially blocked military arms exports to Turkey in April 2021 after
a probe found Canadian drone technology exported to Turkey had been used by
Azerbaijan in clashes with Armenia.

The export ban affected some 30 permits, and applied to a wide variety of
military goods and technologies including components for the production of
aircraft, software and technical data for flight simulators, satellite
equipment and firearm components.

Canada will now require that Turkish importers provide assurances about the
weapons' use as well as a government statement "clearly indicating whether
the items will be re-exported or transferred to a non-NATO country."

Canada additionally "has broad authority to suspend or cancel permits," the
notice said.

The move comes less than a week after Turkey's parliament ratified Sweden's
membership in the NATO defense alliance, following initial objections and
more than a year of delays.

After Ankara's ratification, the US government approved a $23 billion deal to
sell F-16 warplanes to Turkey.

However the Armenian National Committee of Canada on Monday condemned the
move in a statement.

"This decision has raised alarming concerns within the Armenian-Canadian
community, as it compromises Canada's commitment to human rights,
international security, and justice," it said.