HUNGARY EASES VISA

In order to develop and ease the trade with Hungary, the signature ceremony of protocols between Embassy of Hungary, General Consulate of Hungary in Istanbul and Chairmen of various provinces’ Chambers of Trade and Industry and Chairmen of Stock Exchange under the body of Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) on visa-easing for businessmen was held in Ankara under the hostage of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis.

Minister Bagis, stating that he welcomed the memorandum of understanding which was a mark of the unlimited friendship between Turkey and Hungary, said “In this way, we will together further improve the volume of trade, tourism and friendship between Turkey and Hungary.”

Minister Bagis indicated that Turkish businessmen who wanted to be partners with their collocutors and to make investments in Hungary would face with a simpler application method for getting Schengen visa. Bagis said that the visa problem was one of the biggest damages for Turkey resulted from 1980 coup and that Turkish citizens had been able to travel to a lot of EU countries without visa until the 1980 coup.  Bagis said “The twisted mentality of 1980 coup made us to waive from our rights arising from the Ankara Agreement signed by the deceased Inonu in 1963, in order to prevent our youth to go to Europe as political refugees.” Minister Bagis indicated that he gave great importance to the cooperation with Hungary and there was a deep-rooted relationship between Turkey and Hungary throughout history.

Bagis, criticizing the execution of Abdulkadir Molla, Deputy Secretary General of the Cemaat-i Islami Party despite of the reactions of world public opinion, said “I would like to particularly underline that despite of the efforts of Turkey the execution of Abdülkadir Molla, one of the Islamic leaders, is so sad on behalf of the humanity.” Bagis, reminding that following the coup of Ziya ul Hak in Pakistan next to Bangladesh, the Prime Minister Butto was condemned to death, said “At that time, Turkey made great efforts in order to prevent the execution of Butto. However, unfortunately, that execution could not be prevented. Pakistan could not find the peace after that execution. We are really worried about the same mistake done by Bangladesh. We are already sad about the possible unsteadiness of our Bangladeshi friends and brothers.”