SANA’A, Feb. 13 — A recent unofficial agreement between Turkey and Yemen to remove visa requirements for travel between the two states has been welcomed by officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an appreciated step in the amicable relationship between the two countries.

Mohammed Al-Ashbei, the head of the Asian and Australian Department at the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the recent move by Turkey to cancel visa requirements for Yemeni citizens will help nationals of the two countries move freely, adding that this move will contribute to increasing trade  between Yemen and Turkey.  

According to Al-Ashbei citizens from both countries will be able to travel with just a passport if the Turkish Parliament ratifies the diplomatic decision.

“The agreement was signed in 2011 when the Turkish president came to Yemen,” said Fazli Corman, Turkey’s ambassador to Yemen.  

Turkish and Yemeni Ministers of Foreign Affairs ratified the agreement in October 2012, but before Yemenis are advised to travel to Turkey without a visa, Corman says the Turkish Parliament must officially endorse the decision.  

“On the Yemeni side, the approval process is completed, and the same thing should be done on the Turkish side,” he said.  

Although Corman is confident that visas will be a thing of the past, he is unsure on an exact time frame for his country.  

“I don’t how long will it take. It may take a couple of months,” he said.  

According to the ambassador, the move will be advantageous for both Yemen and Turkey and will hopefully increase trade between the two countries.

“Such a move will open up opportunities for the Turkish businessmen to come to Yemen for the purpose of economic and tourist activities,” he said.  

Mustfa Nassr, the head of the Economic Studies and the Media Center, agreed, saying the agreement will allow Yemeni’s to learn from Turkey’s experience in the fields of economy, tourism and healthcare.