UNDER U.S. PRESSURE TURKEY AGREED TO ALLAY VISA REGIME FOR ARMENIAN CITIZENS

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish leadership has made a decision on allaying the visa regime for Armenian citizens. Let us remind that the visa regime was toughened in May 2000. Turkish authorities had decided to respond this way to the widening campaign on world recognition of the fact of the Armenian genocide. Armenian citizens receiving Turkey entrance visas not on the border but in Turkish Embassy in any country became the expression of the strict measures. They are abolished this year and the previous regime is introduced. Ankara calls this step a good will gesture. Meanwhile, it is known that the decision on mitigating the visa regime was made in the course of Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to Washington. This circumstance allows supposing that the tough regime was waived under pressure from the United States. In particular, "Star" newspaper has such an opinion. According to it "Bush administration adherence to principle and insisting upon improving relations of Turkey with Armenia, is apparently due to activation of Armenian lobby." In the opinion of the edition commentator, Armenians of America have sufficient mechanisms letting "impede by means of Congress the governmental programs for rendering economic and military aid to Turkey."