AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY ON EXEMPTION OF THE VISA REQUIREMENT FOR HOLDERS OF DIPLOMATIC, SPECIAL AND SERVICE PASSPORTS AND THE FACILITATION OF VISA PROCEDURES FOR ORDINARY PASSPORT HOLDERS

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Turkey (hereinafter referred to as the "Contracting Parties");

Desiring to promote the further development of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries;

And wishing to facilitate the travels of their citizens;

Have agreed as follows: 

Article 1

1. Nationals of the Republic of Latvia holding valid diplomatic and service passports may enter repeatedly the territory of the Republic of Turkey and stay there for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days all together during a half year without being required to obtain visa.

2. Nationals of the Republic of Turkey holding valid diplomatic, special and service passports may enter repeatedly the territory of the Republic of Latvia and stay there for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days all together during a half year without being required to obtain visa.  

Article 2

1. Nationals either Contracting Party holding valid diplomatic and service passports and holders of special passports of the Republic of Turkey, who are appointed to the diplomatic or consular posts in the territory of the other Contracting Party, may enter, stay and leave the receiving country during their term of appointment without being required to obtain visa.

2. Similar rules shall apply to the family members of such officials, provided they are holders of valid diplomatic and service passports and special passports of the Republic of Turkey. 

Article 3

1. The holders of valid ordinary passports of the Republic of Latvia may enter repeatedly the territory of the Republic of Turkey and stay there for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days all together during a half year without being required to obtain visa.

2. To request visa with the period of stay up to ninety (90) days during a half year, visa procedure for holders of valid ordinary passport of the Republic of Turkey shall be eased as fallows:

a. The Turkish businessmen having the letter of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Turkey shall be issued multiple entry visas for one year within two working days;

b. The Turkish truck and bus drivers shall be issued multiple entry visa valid for one year within two working days. Turkish side through diplomatic channels will submit the list of the Turkish truck and bus drivers, to whom the provisions of this sub-clause should be applied;

c. The Turkish students attending the European Union Education Programmes, namely Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus and the Youth, shall be issued visas with the letter of the relevant educational institutions of the Republic of Latvia.  

Article 4

The citizens of the Republic of Turkey shall be exempt from all visa fees until Latvia joins to the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 on the gradual abolition of checks at the common borders signed at Schengen on 19 June 1990. The Republic of Latvia shall notice immediately to the Republic of Turkey about the joining to the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement.  

Article 5

The exemption from the visa requirement hereunder does not release the diplomatic, special (for Turkish citizens only), service and ordinary (for Latvian citizens only) holders of either Contracting Party from the observance of the laws and regulations in force on the territory of the other Contracting Party.  

Article 6

Each Contracting Party reserves the right to deny entry into its territory, on a discretional basis, when the entry of a particular individual into the country is considered undesirable.  

Article 7

1. The Contracting Parties shall exchange through diplomatic channels specimens of their travel documents specified in Article 1 and 3 of the present Agreement not later than thirty (30) days before the entry into force of the present Agreement.

2. If either Contracting Party modifies its travel documents specified in Article 1 and 3 of the present Agreement or introduces new travel documents after the entry into force of the present Agreement, it shall provide the other Contracting Party with the specimens of new travel documents through diplomatic channels at least thirty (30) days before they are introduced. 

Article 8

1. This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period. Either Contracting Party may terminate it by giving ninety (90) days prior notice through diplomatic channels.

2. This Agreement may be modified on the basis of mutual written consent of both Contracting Parties. Such amendments shall enter into force in accordance with paragraph 1of Article 9 of this Agreement.  

Article 9

This Agreement shall enter into force sixty (60) days after the date of the receipt of the latter notification by which the Contracting Parties notify each other of completion of internal legal procedures that are necessary for its entering into force.

Upon the entry into force of this Agreement, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of Republic of Turkey concerning the mutual abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic passports signed on 19 November 1996 shall cease to have any effect.

Done at Riga on the 26^th day of June, 2006, in two original copies, in the Latvian, Turkish and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.