The Greek government is preparing to remove visa requirements for Turkish citizens who make one-day visits to western Thrace.

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Dollis, on Prime Minister George Papandreu’s instructions, initiated the legal process to remove the one-day visas to western Thrace, where a large number of Turks dwell.

Greek Parliamentary deputies from the region near the Meric River, which is the border between Greece and Turkey, requested the removal of the one day-visas last week, declaring that the lift of one-day visas would also economically benefit the debt-struggling Greece.

Greece to remove one-day visa requirement for Turks

Turkey removed the one-day visa in the region on Turkish soil in 1988. The legal proposal by Greek FM Dimitris Dollis is expected to be but into final and official form in seven days.

Since the Greek government waived visa requirements for Turkish green passport holders, Greek islands travels from Turkey have increased significantly and poor Greece economy has benefited from their neighbours visits. At the end of July 2010, the Greek government removed the visa requirement for Turkish citizens who are generally former parliamentary deputies, mayors, senior public employees and their spouses.

[adrotate group=”16″]