Brussels, 03/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - During a state visit to Austria, the Turkish president, Abdullah Gül, complained that the EU was treating Russia and Ukraine better than Turkey on the question of visas, although the latter is a candidate country, which has been negotiating its access to the Union since 2005. The Turkish head of state has therefore called on the EU27 to liberalise the visa system with regard to his country. During a joint press conference with his Austrian counterpart, Heinz Fischer, on 2 May in Vienna, Gül deplored the fact that the EU had already discussed visa waivers with Russia and Ukraine but not with Turkey. He declared that “this is something that discredits the European Union but not Turkey”. Gül also reiterated the determination of his country to join the EU. Austria is one of the countries that has expressed the most misgivings about Turkish accession but the Turkish president explained that his country's accession would significantly benefit Austria. The Austrian president remained vague, however, and underlined that “these negotiations are difficult and no one, even the Turks, is able to predict their outcome”. (H.B./transl.fl)