Turkey: we demand visa exemption from EU

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday that they demanded visa exemption for Turkish citizens from the European Union (EU). Speaking at the "Second Trade Counsellors' Conference" in Turkish capital of Ankara on Monday, Davutoglu said that once the EU removed visa requirements for Turkish citizens, Turkey and the EU would be in harmony. We will not leave our visa policy until the EU lifts visa requirements, Davutoglu stressed. Turkey must be a geographic center and not a bridge, Davutoglu said. Turkey does not have a large geography. As such, we have to utilize our geography effectively. We will not have any limits when it comes to economy and culture. We will end all conservative visa implementations, Davutoglu underlined. On the topic of energy, Davutoglu said that Turkey needed to take strong measures for energy. As Turkey's consumption of energy increases, there is a need for stronger energy companies, Davutoglu indicated. Our relations with northern Iraq or Iraq in general should not be a matter of concern for anybody. Such relations are not against any person or group but are a result of geographical necessities, Davutoglu noted. Any agreement we sign does not target anyone. We have to approach joint projects based on joint interests in an attempt to control energy flow around us, Davutoglu said. In the past decade, Turkey made achievements in democratization and freedoms. Income per capita in Turkey increased by four fold in the past ten years. If a country's economy performs successfully, its foreign policy follows a similar pattern, Davutoglu stated. Had Turkey reached economic stability at the end of the Cold War, we may have reached the goals for 2023 by now, Davutoglu also said.