Bagis pledges visa-free travel to schengen zone for Turkish people

Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis replied to questions on the NTV channel yesterday. Speaking on Turkey's EU membership bid, Bagis said that Turkish citizens would be able to travel to Schengen zone without any visa requirement in three to four years.  "The EU is the most important reform process. We have been progressing with regard to reforms in a considerably resolute manner. There is a process currently conducted by a country which is not recognized by Turkey. Turkey isn't suffering any loss or defect now. The Greek Cypriot administration is unable to damage our relations with the EU. The visa-free travel for [Turkish people] is being mentioned for the first time, and efforts are underway to provide Turkish citizens with employment at the European Commission," Bagis said, adding that Turkey has been implementing reforms not for Europeans, but to boost life standards of Turkish citizens. Touching on kidnapping of the Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Huseyin Aygun by terrorist PKK, Bagis reiterated that the issue was discussed during a visit paid by US Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone to him. "US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in our country two days ago. She held contacts with our president, prime minister and foreign minister. It was important for her to underline that the US was standing next to Turkey in its fight against terrorism. Similarly, Ricciardone announced his country's support for Turkey with regard to kidnapping of Aygun," Bagis noted.