Ankara welcomes the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to introduce visa waivers for several more categories of Turkish nationals, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement on Wednesday
ANKARA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 07th February, 2019) Ankara welcomes the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to introduce visa waivers for several more categories of Turkish nationals, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement on Wednesday.According to Putin's decree signed earlier in the day, waivers will be granted to holders of special passports travelling to Russia on short working trips, such as diplomats and consular staff, as well as to freight drivers on international routes. The exemptions will only be granted on condition of reciprocity from Turkey, according to the decree.
"We welcome President Vladimir Putin's decree on the abolition of visas for Turkish citizens with special passports and professional drivers engaged in international freight haulage," the statement says.
Aksoy noted that this decision had been made after consultations between Russia and Turkey on consular issues in November last year.
"We will continue negotiations with the Russian Foreign Ministry to ensure entry of this decree into force as early as possible. We expect a complete abolition of the visa regime for our citizens, which was introduced in 2010," the statement said.
Russia suspended visa-free travel with Turkey in 2015 after its warplane in Syria was downed by a Turkish jet, prompting a breakdown in their relations. Russia's travel rules for Turkish citizens have already been eased in 2017, a year after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan penned a letter of apology to Putin for the downed jet.
