Turkey hopes for visa-free regime with Russia

Turkey hopes the bilateral visa regime with Russia will be abolished
later this year, the country's foreign minister said on Thursday, RIA
Novosti reports.

At the moment, Russians traveling to Turkey, a cheap and popular venue
for Russian tourists, have to pay 15 euros or 20 dollars upon their
arrival in the country.

"I think very soon, this year, everything will be ready for the
annulling of this [visa] regime, and both Russians and Turks will be
able to travel without visas," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu said at a news conference with his Russian counterpart,
Sergei Lavrov.

The two countries agreed to cancel the visa regime for trips that last
under 30 days in May 2010. The agreement will only come into force
after both parliaments ratify the document and all the necessary
documentation is prepared.

Lavrov in turn said that the move would hopefully further increase the
number of Russian tourists travelling to Turkey.