Austrian Parliament Speaker Asks Turkey To Lift Visa For Austrians

VIENNA - Austrian Parliament Speaker Andreas Khol asked Turkey to lift visa implementation for Austrian people.
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Khol held a joint press conference after their meeting.
Arinc told reporters that Khol asked Turkey to ease visa implementation in the meeting and they promised each other that they would convey the issue to the governments.
Arinc who did not make any statement whether or not visa implementation will be lifted mutually between the two countries said, ''nearly 250 thousand Turkish citizens have been living in Austria for 40 years. We know that almost all Turkish people are living freely and they are happy. Turkish-Austrian friendship should not be overshadowed by anything.''
Stating that Austria also supported fully Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU), Arinc said, ''Austria supports reforms which have been fulfilled by the government and the parliament on Turkey's accession to the EU. It especially appreciated reforms which were made on cultural rights in Turkey. Those who want to learn Kurdish can learn it.''
Arinc said that Khol and he also reached consensus on further development of relations between the two countries.
Stating that he invited Khol to Turkey, Arinc said, ''I hope that Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel will also pay a visit to Turkey in April or May. It is an evidence that we also want to improve our relations at the level of parliament and government.''
Austrian Parliament Speaker Andreas Khol said that economic relations between the two countries were very good and stated that agreement on prevention of double taxation was about to be completed.
Khol said that tourism relations were also very good and recalled that nearly 400 thousand Austrians visited Turkey in a year. Khol added that they reached consensus that this figure should be increased twofold.
Stating that they were following with appreciation Turkish government's work on reforms, Khol said that they were pleased especially with steps which were taken for Kurdish to be used more freely.
(EÖ-AÖ) 20.01.2004