In Germany, Erdogan proposes two-stage visa elimination

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced yesterday that during discussions with German Chancellor Angela Merkel he proposed a two-stage plan for exempting Turkish nationals traveling to Germany from visa requirements, yet cautioned that, even if mutually agreed upon, implementation of the plan would take time. Speaking to reporters en route from Hanover to Istanbul after completing a two-day visit to Germany, Erdogan said Merkel explained her concerns about illegal immigrants who use Turkey and then Greece as transit countries to reach Germany. Under Turkey's proposal, Erdogan explained, artists, academics, athletes and businesspeople would initially be eligible for the exemption, to be expanded in stage two. Erdogan and Merkel had a working dinner in Hanover on Monday evening after inaugurating the city's CeBIT communication and information technology fair.