Turkey signs agreement ending visa requirement with Belarus

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu signed an agreement with Belarus ending visa requirement between Turkey and Belarus. On Friday, Davutoglu met with Belarus' Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey in Minsk. The two ministers discussed bilateral relations including Turkish investments in Belarus and promoting economic and commercial cooperation. Following the talks between the two ministers, a signature ceremony was held for the "Agreement to End Mutual Visa Requirements" and " Turkey-Belarus Readmission Agreement". Foreign Minister Makey signed thevisa agreement on behalf of Belarus. Interior Minister Anatoliy Kuleshov signed the Readmission Agreement on behalf of Belarus. Speaking at a joint press conference following the signature ceremony, Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey was the first country to recognize Belarus in 1992 and he was the first Turkish Foreign Minister to visit Belarus. I am honored to be the first Turkish Foreign Minister visiting Belarus, Davutoglu stressed. Relations between our two countries develop with no problems, Davutoglu said. With the end of visas, our economic and social relations would further develop, Davutoglu also said. Minister Makey, in his part, said that Turkey was one of the countries Belarus attached most importance to in the region. We discussed (today) concrete projects and Davutoglu's visit would add momentum to our bilateral relations, Makey noted. The two ministers later had a working lunch in which they discussed various regional issues, including Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Ahmet Davutoglu was later received by President Alexander Lukashenko and Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich.