ANKARA - Sinan Aygun, Chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) said Turkish citizens had the legal right to travel to EU countries without a visa under the decision of Eropean Court of Justice (ECJ).
Issuing a written statement on Sunday, Aygun said visa regime of EU countries towars Turkish citizens was unlawful.
Aygun recalled the verdicts of ECJ recognising the right of Turkish citizens to travel to EU countries without a visa, in the cases filed by Turkish citizens Mehmet Dari and Veli Tum and underlined that EU countries were violating the law.
Aygun said Turkey should apply to the European Commission and ask for justice.
"Turkey should ask the European Commission to enforce the law. The commission will not act on its own. We have to file an application saying that our rights are violated. If the commission does not take action, we can file a law suit against it or the countries who are not enforcing the verdict," said Aygun.
Aygun said Germany was demanding visas from Turkish citizens while it was opening its doors to Ukranians.
Aygun pointed out that while some Ukrainians could easily get visas for cheap and some were not even required to get visas, even representatives of Turkish Airlines had difficulties in getting visas.
Aygun said according to the principle of pacta sund servanda adopted in the Treaty of Amsterdam, the EU countries had to enforce the verdicts of ECJ and reminded that Turkey was a partner member of the European Community according to the Ankara Treaty signed in 1964.