ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s Sunni leader and former speaker of parliament Osama Nujaifi has urged Turkey to remove visa restrictions and facilitate travels for Iraqi citizens.

Nujaifi asked Turkey’s ambassador to Iraq Faruk Kaymakcı that he hoped Ankara would remove newly imposed visa requirements for Iraqis.

Previously Iraqi citizens were granted visa on arrival at all Turkish airports and land crossings.

However, in recent weeks Turkey has cancelled the visa-on-arrival policy and holders of Iraqi passports have to obtain visa at one of Turkey’s diplomatic missions in Iraq.

Nujaifi said that it was important that the visa process was made smooth by Turkey especially those seeking humanitarian or medical treatment.

The visa restriction on Iraqi citizens comes after Turkey signed a deal with Turkey late last year to reduce the flow of migrants from its shores to the European Union.

Rudaw