Bagis: "If the EU starts visa facilitation talks, Turkey is ready to ratify a readmission agreement"

Turkey will ratify a readmission agreement on illegal immigration if the European Union launches visa facilitation talks with Ankara, said EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis yesterday, in a signal of a possible jump-start of stalled Turkish-EU relations. Bagis, who is also Ankara's chief EU negotiator, said visa facilitation talks with the bloc would be essential for combating illegal immigration. Ankara says it will not implement the readmission agreement with the EU on illegal immigrants unless it starts the visa facilitation talks, arguing that all EU candidate or neighboring countries in some way enjoy the facilitation of visa requirements.