FM Davutoğlu urges EU to grant Turks visa-free travel

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News
Sunday, December 20, 2009

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu urged the European Union to introduce visa-free travel for Turkish citizens after noting that Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia have been granted the privilege.

“It's unacceptable that certain Balkan countries that are in the initial stages of the membership process and have not begun negotiations have been given the Schengen privilege, while Turkey, considering the level that Turkish-EU relations have reached, has not," Davutoğlu told reporters on Saturday.

Turkey launched accession talks in 2005 and is part of a customs union agreement with the EU. But it is not a part of the Schengen regime that allows free movement across borders.
Visa requirements in Schengen zone countries were abolished on Saturday for citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.

"We will follow this closely from now on," said Davutoğlu following a meeting of the Reform Monitoring Group, or RİG, which was set to review Turkey’s EU accession process.
Turkish officials have expressed frustration over what they consider slow progress in membership negotiations since the candidate country has opened only 11 out of 35 chapters.
The EU has kept eight others frozen because Turkey rejects to open its port and airports to EU member Greek Cypriots unless the embargo over Turkish Cypriots is lifted.

Public opinion polls in Europe show that nearly half of its citizens are opposed to mainly Muslim Turkey joining the EU.

Davutoğlu emphasized the government is determined to move forward despite discouraging developments. “It is not a process only related to opening or closing the chapters. We consider both domestic and international aspects of EU membership. We’re determined to move forward according to Turkey’s final goal, not to existing obstacles.”

“RİG will continue to work on all chapters, including those frozen [for political reasons],” he added.

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