Russia-Turkey visa-free travel regime officially launchedApril 16, 2011 - 15:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Visa-free travel regime between Turkey and Russia has officially begun on Saturday, April 16. First Russian tourists have entered Turkey at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport without visa requirements Saturday morning. Russian tourists must have 50 U.S. dollars for each day they will stay in Turkey, Turkish passport officials said. The visa liberalization deal, signed by Turkey and Russia last May, paves the way for 30 days of visa-free travel within a 90-day period. The visa-free period between Turkey and Russia is expected to have positive outcomes both in trade and contractor services as well as tourism. Actual 26.2 billion USD foreign trade volume between Turkey and Russia is expected to amount to 40 billion USD in one year after removal of visa restrictions. The implementation is also expected to make a significant rise in number of Turkish and Russian tourists, AA reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |