Davutoglu: "rather than visa dialogue, we want visa exemption"

A European Union interior ministers' decision to start "visa dialogue" with Turkey, approving the readmission agreement and saying there could be visa exemptions for groups such as students and researchers, falls short of what is truly needed, said Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara yesterday. Turkey won't implement the readmission agreement with the EU before the start of talks between Turkey and the 27-nation bloc on visa-free travel for Turkish citizens to the EU, he vowed. "Today's reports are talking about a visa dialogue without a clear target for visa exemption," he told reporters at Esenboga Airport , before leaving for a visit to the United Arab Emirates . "Our stance is clear: Turkey in no way accepts treatment different than that given to any other country."