KIEV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said Monday that easing the visa regimes between Ukraine and Turkey would top the agenda during his three-day visit to Turkey, where the Ukrainian leader was due to arrive later in the day.
"We are ready to seriously review our visa regime, including with Turkey," Yushchenko was quoted as telling reporters from Turkish media by his press service Monday.
Yushchenko was due to leave for Turkey later on Monday for a three-day trip to Ankara and Istanbul, where he was expected to meet with his counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as local business leaders.
Ukraine earlier this year withdrew visa requirements for European Union passport holders and Yushchenko said Kiev was considering similar measures for other countries.
"In parallel, we have to answer the question of security against international terrorism, the narcotics trade and human trafficking," he said. "This is why I am eagerly awaiting discussions with the Turkish side about a reciprocal liberalization of the visa regime."
Yushchenko and his wife, Kateryna, were due to spend Monday and Tuesday in Ankara and Wednesday in Istanbul.
06/06/2005 08:37 GMT