CHP's Bakan reacts to AKP's 'visa liberalization' decision: 'We will put a stop to this'

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who held a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in recent days, announced that a visa liberalization policy for Iraqis under 15 and over 50 would be implemented starting September 1.

Starting September 1: Minister Fidan announced that a visa liberalization policy for Iraqis under 15 and over 50 will be implemented.

While the visa liberalization for Iraqi citizens has drawn significant criticism, CHP MP Bakan shared the relevant decisions in a statement today, reminding the public that visa liberalization had previously been granted to Libyan and Algerian citizens under 15 and over 50 through a Presidential decree published in the Official Gazette. Bakan wrote, "Visa privileges are constantly being granted to citizens of certain countries; we will put a stop to this."

The full text of Bakan's statement is as follows:

"We have been granting visa liberalization by setting age ranges not only to Iraq, but also to Libya and Algeria since 2019.

Libyan, Algerian, and Iraqi passports, for which even Afghanistan requires visas, enjoy visa-free access in only a handful of countries worldwide, and Turkey is one of them!

The aforementioned countries, which are granted visa liberalization by setting age ranges, impose visa requirements on our ordinary passports!

In other words, the 'principle of reciprocity,' a fundamental tenet of international relations, has been completely suspended!

We are facing a government that prides itself on prioritizing foreigners in our country, especially through a zero-criteria migration policy, and making our own citizens feel like 'foreigners in their own country'!

Applying for visas to EU countries has become increasingly difficult for Turkish citizens in recent years. It has become almost impossible to even secure an appointment, especially for a Schengen visa.

While our passport is on its way to becoming worthless globally due to these reckless decisions and policies, and while our citizens cannot even get a visa appointment, let alone a visa, visa privileges are constantly being granted to citizens of certain countries instead of correcting this humiliating situation. This is not enough; they are also easily selling Republic of Turkey citizenship without adhering to any procedures by granting 'golden passports' in exchange for property acquisition. What is your problem with this country?

On one hand, they are closing the doors for our citizens to open up to the world; on the other hand, they are making Turkey more accessible to citizens of Middle Eastern and African countries by constantly signing visa exemption agreements.

We will put a stop to this."

We have been granting visa liberalization by setting age ranges not only to Iraq, but also to Libya and Algeria since 2019.

Libyan, Algerian, and Iraqi passports, for which even Afghanistan requires visas, enjoy visa-free access in only a handful of countries worldwide, and Turkey is one of them!

Age... pic.twitter.com/7Lx5othFPT

— Murat BAKAN (@CHPMuratBakan) August 20, 2024

News Source: 12punto