Opposition figure: Syrians with expired passports may enter Turkey

Translation by Dani Murad

 (Zaman Alwasl)-Syrian Coalition representative in Turkey said the Turkish authorities will soon implement a new decision that allows Syrians with expired passports to enter Turkey.

In a letter directed to the coalition’s members, seen by Zaman Alwasl, Khaled Khoja mentioned that there will be exceptions to some figures in the coalition, or to some personalities documented by the coalition, pointing out that in this case, it is necessary to implement proper mechanisms in choosing the “recommended people” who are Non-members in the coalition.

However, he stressed that there will be no interference with the local Turkish authorities, and the coalition will not be held responsible for any problem with persons who were not recommended by the coalition.

This came after Khoja’s meeting with the representatives of Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding the residencies, as mentioned in the letter, pointing out that there are efforts by the Turkish ministry with the department of immigration to come up with exceptional solutions for the benefit of the coalition’s members, however, they are still under discussion.

SNC representative “Khoja”, said that the members should apply for residency through the internet, although the stage of transferring the foreign residencies from the Security Directorate to the new department of immigration, according to the European standards, hasn’t finished yet, which consequently stooped the regular distribution of residencies.

In addition to that, he asked every member of the coalition to inform him at least 48 hours before going to the security Directorate, to provide them with the possible assistance in the proceedings, noting that the procedures of the Security Directorate remain independent at the end.

Moreover, he demanded the members to abide by the regulations and laws of the host country, warning of attempts to bring any prohibited items to Turkey, such as “any archaeological pieces, or strategic materials (oil, gold, hard currency, wheat, technology…) or any of the country’s treasures”.