ANKARA - Ukraine and Turkey are planning to agree on the introduction of the visa-free regime for the entry of their nationals to the territory of both countries, Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Serhiy Korsunsky has said.
He told Ukrainian journalists in Ankara on Thursday that an agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Turkish government on the conditions of mutual trips by citizens was to be signed during an official visit by the Ukrainian president to Turkey.
"We will introduce it [the visa-free regime] after we complete all of the necessary procedures on the entry into force of this agreement, and I predict that this will happen in May," Korsunsky said.
The ambassador said the agreement envisaged the visa-free regime for 30 days from the date of entry.
The total period of stay for persons in Ukraine or Turkey should not exceed 90 days per each period of 180 days.
The ambassador noted that the introduction of visa-free travel would benefit both Ukraine and Turkey.
He said that about 500,000 Ukrainian tourists visited Turkey every year and that about 35,000 Ukrainian visas were issued for Turkish citizens annually, with 120,000 citizens of Turkey entering Ukraine.
Korsunsky said that this was a sign that Ukraine was mostly visited by Turkish citizens for business purposes.
Today Viktor Yanukovych has arrived on an official visit to Turkey, the presidential press service reported.
The head of state will meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Ukrainian president and the Turkish prime minister will chair the first meeting of the Strategic High-Level Council.
