30 July 2007: Ankara

Turkey has taken another step in improving relations with Central Asian countries by implementing a unilateral visa exemption policy for the citizens of Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

With a Cabinet decision published in Sunday's Official Gazette, citizens of these five countries will no longer require visas for trips to Turkey with a duration of 30 days or less.

Last year, Turkey and Georgia mutually abolished the visa requirement for trips between the two countries with a duration of 90 days or less. Turkey already does not require a visa from citizens of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan still require a visa from Turkish citizens who want to visit those countries.

The European Union is likely to criticize Turkey's change in its visa procedure since as a full-membership candidate country, Turkey is expected to harmonize its visa procedures with the related EU acquis. Turkey did not require a visa from Azerbaijani citizens until 2003. In 2004's progress report from the European Commission, Turkey's move to once again require visas from Azerbaijani citizens in 2003 was noted as a positive development.

The five countries for which Turkey has implemented a non-visa policy are countries with which the EU wants Ankara to implement a visa policy. Barring a new EU decision concerning the issue, Turkey would have to implement a visa policy for citizens of those countries again before becoming a full EU member.

Source: Today's Zaman