The prime minister of Turkey has announced in Warsaw that visa requirements will be dropped for Poles as part of talks marking 600 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister of Poland Ewa Kopacz and Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutogluand. Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaminski

“Every modern inhabitant of Lehistan, meaning Poland, will be able to visit Istanbul without any barriers or difficulties,” said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu while at the Grand Theatre—National Opera in Warsaw.

Davutoglu added that he hoped Poland would assist Turkey in securing visa-free travel throughout the entire Schengen zone.

Meanwhile, Polish prime minister Ewa Kopacz commented that ''this is good news for Polish tourists.

''This is also good news for Turkey as tourists will spend their money there.”

Responding to Davutoglu she said that “we will always be a good ambassador in the European Union for Turkey.

“I hope that in future we will be able to co-operate as fellow members of the EU.”

Both leaders also commented on the fact that the two countries were celebrating 600 years of bilateral diplomatic relations, which date back to a Polish embassy sent to the Ottoman Empire in 1414. Kopacz noted that “it is rare that two countries can jointly celebrate 600 years of diplomatic relations.”

The Ottoman Empire was one of the only states that did not officially recognize the Partitions of Poland and the country’s disappearance for over a century. In return Poland was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Turkey after it was proclaimed in 1923. (sl/nh)

Source: IAR