A readmission agreement in exchange for simplifying and potentially cancelling the visa regime with the EU will be signed between Europe and Turkey. Turkey will be the first to take step in this compromise, since readmission agreement is scheduled for December 16. It will be followed by negotiations on the visa-free regime. Vestnik Kavkaza talks to the expert of the Turkish International Development Research Centre (USAK) Hassan Selim Ozertem on the subject.
Ozertem noted that the start of negotiations on the visa-free regime with the EU will be a very significant step for Turkey, adding that Turkey has come a very long way before the parties came to this decision. "It is important to note that the country has fulfilled several conditions that had been set before her. Significant reforms were undertaken relating to the matters of readmission, passport standards were changed in line with international standards, the issue of refugees from the Middle East was also solved. The recently adopted decisions can be explained by the fact that Turkey is a small part of Europe which plays a very important role in the regional politics and economics," Ozertem said.
He expressed confidence that the agreement with Europe on readmission and visa-free regime would help the process of Turkey's accession to the EU.
Ozertem also stressed that the signature of Turkey under the agreement does not imply its recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.
