Turkey denies plan to abolish visa-free travel with 89 countries

The Turkish Foreign Ministry denied on Saturday news reports that Ankara is preparing to introduce visas for citizens of 89 countries which currently enjoy visa-free travel to Turkey, local media reported.

"Reports in the media that our country will start implementing visa requirements for 89 countries as of June 1 do not reflect the truth,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that Turkey will be obligated to align its visa policies with those of the EU only after it became a full member of the bloc.

An earlier report claimed that Turkey would abolish the current visa-free regime with countries including Russia and Iran as of June 1 to harmonize its visa policies with those of the EU as part of a deal between Ankara and the European Union to curb illegal immigration through Turkey to Europe.