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World Bulletin, Turkey
Dec 7 2013
Turkish FM aims for visa-free travel to northern Iraq
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also touched on Iran, Armenia
and the EU readmission agreement.
World Bulletin / News Desk
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was on Haberturk TV on
Friday evening to answer questions about the current topics on the
agenda including the oil export deal with Irbil, EU-Turkey readmission
agreement, relations with Armenia, and Turkey's foreign policy.
In response to a question about how much further the Ankara-Irbil oil
export deal could go without creating any concerns on the part of the
central Iraqi government, Davutoglu said that he hoped that Baghdad
and Irbil would make legal regulations regarding sharing of energy and
resources without any problems being reflected on Turkey.
Stressing that Turkey's biggest challenge was its requirement for more
energy resources for its growing economy, Davutoglu said: "If you are
planning Turkey's future, and your goal is to be among the top 10
largest economies of the world, then you need to know both your
strengths and weaknesses. Our biggest strength is manpower, and our
weakness is energy resources. To maximize manpower, we need visa
liberalization so that people can travel freely to anywhere in the
world. And to increase energy resources, you would obviously want all
energy lines to lead to Turkey".
Davutoglu also noted that they supported the lifting of sanctions
against Iran since it would lead to a drop in oil and gas prices, and
allow Turkey to buy the cheapest energy available from its neighbor
who has the largest natural gas reserves in the world.
Regarding a question about the possibility of a visa-free travel to
northern Iraq, Davutoglu said that the border crossing procedure
between Turkey and Iraq needs to be simplified in a manner similar to
the travel procedure among EU countries so that it is barely
noticeable.
"Hopefully, one day people will be able to travel to Irbil without a
visa, just like they can when travelling to Georgia. One day this will
also be true for Aleppo and other cities as long as we continue to
pursue our vision," Davutoglu said.
EU READMISSION AGREEMENT
Davutoglu also gave details about the readmission agreement to be
signed with the European Union on December 16, saying that this
agreement dealt with the returning of third-country nationals
irregularly entering and/or residing on Turkey and EU territories.
"After the readmission agreement is signed, we will not readmit
foreign illegal migrants for a term of 3 years, therefore not bear
additional liabilities. In the meantime, we will keep working on
modernizing our system, and share any financial burdens that could
arise with the EU. The EU has allocated 500 million EUR for this
purpose only," Davutoglu noted.
Davutoglu said that in order for an EU country to return anybody to
Turkey, they would have to prove that the third-country national in
question entered EU via Turkey, and even then, they would be
readmitted after certain guarantees are ensured.
Adding that the costs of those third-country nationals who could not
go back to their countries either for financial or security reasons
would be shared with EU, Davutoglu said that the readmission of up to
a few thousand asylum seekers at most would in turn give 75 million
Turkish citizens the right to travel to Europe without a visa.
Regarding the concerns that any EU country might veto visa exemption,
Davutoglu said that the decision would be based on a majority-based
voting in order to prevent such a possibility.
Underlining that the agreement has been negotiated very carefully,
Davutoglu said: "Let's say the majority of the countries did not keep
their promises. Then Turkey would be able to terminate the agreement.
All guarantees have been put in place."
RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
In response to a question about Turkey's relations with Armenia,
Davutoglu said: "Even if we establish a perfect relationship with
Armenia, this would be jeopardized unless a peaceful environment is
settled in southern Caucasus."
Davutoglu further said that considering the good relations Turkey has
been enjoying recently with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkmenistan
and Russia, the only missing link is Armenia: "We do not want such
isolation. If Armenia wishes to be a part of this picture, then they
need to respect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," Davutoglu
noted.
Regarding criticisms against the alleged "resetting" of Turkish
foreign policy, Davutoglu said: "They are ignoring the change in Iran
after Rouhani came to power. If there is a change to Iran's foreign
policy, Turkey would naturally read into it carefully, and review (its
own foreign policy)".
Dismissing any resetting, Davutoglu went on to say: "We are further
enriching a just and principled foreign policy in consideration of the
new attitudes of other actors in a dynamic conjuncture. This is where
Turkey derives its power from. Consistency in principles, flexibility
in methods, and effectiveness in implementation."
http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=124491
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Dec 7 2013
Turkish FM aims for visa-free travel to northern Iraq
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also touched on Iran, Armenia
and the EU readmission agreement.
World Bulletin / News Desk
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was on Haberturk TV on
Friday evening to answer questions about the current topics on the
agenda including the oil export deal with Irbil, EU-Turkey readmission
agreement, relations with Armenia, and Turkey's foreign policy.
In response to a question about how much further the Ankara-Irbil oil
export deal could go without creating any concerns on the part of the
central Iraqi government, Davutoglu said that he hoped that Baghdad
and Irbil would make legal regulations regarding sharing of energy and
resources without any problems being reflected on Turkey.
Stressing that Turkey's biggest challenge was its requirement for more
energy resources for its growing economy, Davutoglu said: "If you are
planning Turkey's future, and your goal is to be among the top 10
largest economies of the world, then you need to know both your
strengths and weaknesses. Our biggest strength is manpower, and our
weakness is energy resources. To maximize manpower, we need visa
liberalization so that people can travel freely to anywhere in the
world. And to increase energy resources, you would obviously want all
energy lines to lead to Turkey".
Davutoglu also noted that they supported the lifting of sanctions
against Iran since it would lead to a drop in oil and gas prices, and
allow Turkey to buy the cheapest energy available from its neighbor
who has the largest natural gas reserves in the world.
Regarding a question about the possibility of a visa-free travel to
northern Iraq, Davutoglu said that the border crossing procedure
between Turkey and Iraq needs to be simplified in a manner similar to
the travel procedure among EU countries so that it is barely
noticeable.
"Hopefully, one day people will be able to travel to Irbil without a
visa, just like they can when travelling to Georgia. One day this will
also be true for Aleppo and other cities as long as we continue to
pursue our vision," Davutoglu said.
EU READMISSION AGREEMENT
Davutoglu also gave details about the readmission agreement to be
signed with the European Union on December 16, saying that this
agreement dealt with the returning of third-country nationals
irregularly entering and/or residing on Turkey and EU territories.
"After the readmission agreement is signed, we will not readmit
foreign illegal migrants for a term of 3 years, therefore not bear
additional liabilities. In the meantime, we will keep working on
modernizing our system, and share any financial burdens that could
arise with the EU. The EU has allocated 500 million EUR for this
purpose only," Davutoglu noted.
Davutoglu said that in order for an EU country to return anybody to
Turkey, they would have to prove that the third-country national in
question entered EU via Turkey, and even then, they would be
readmitted after certain guarantees are ensured.
Adding that the costs of those third-country nationals who could not
go back to their countries either for financial or security reasons
would be shared with EU, Davutoglu said that the readmission of up to
a few thousand asylum seekers at most would in turn give 75 million
Turkish citizens the right to travel to Europe without a visa.
Regarding the concerns that any EU country might veto visa exemption,
Davutoglu said that the decision would be based on a majority-based
voting in order to prevent such a possibility.
Underlining that the agreement has been negotiated very carefully,
Davutoglu said: "Let's say the majority of the countries did not keep
their promises. Then Turkey would be able to terminate the agreement.
All guarantees have been put in place."
RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
In response to a question about Turkey's relations with Armenia,
Davutoglu said: "Even if we establish a perfect relationship with
Armenia, this would be jeopardized unless a peaceful environment is
settled in southern Caucasus."
Davutoglu further said that considering the good relations Turkey has
been enjoying recently with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkmenistan
and Russia, the only missing link is Armenia: "We do not want such
isolation. If Armenia wishes to be a part of this picture, then they
need to respect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," Davutoglu
noted.
Regarding criticisms against the alleged "resetting" of Turkish
foreign policy, Davutoglu said: "They are ignoring the change in Iran
after Rouhani came to power. If there is a change to Iran's foreign
policy, Turkey would naturally read into it carefully, and review (its
own foreign policy)".
Dismissing any resetting, Davutoglu went on to say: "We are further
enriching a just and principled foreign policy in consideration of the
new attitudes of other actors in a dynamic conjuncture. This is where
Turkey derives its power from. Consistency in principles, flexibility
in methods, and effectiveness in implementation."
http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=124491
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress