Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 4
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala instructed to abolish the results of the tender for the issuance of biometric passports to Turkish citizens, which was previously won by the French "Gemalto" company, according to the Turkish "Sabah" newspaper.
The issuance of biometric passports to the citizens of Turkey was to be started in August.
The reasons for cancellation of the tender results firstly was due to the fear of the Turkish authorities that the database on the citizens of the country can be accessed in the United States, and, secondly, anxiety over the company`s close ties with the movement of Fethullah Gulen [Islamic political figure currently residing in the U.S.], the newspaper wrote.
A criminal case has been initiated in Turkey against Fethullah Gulen for his coup attempt and espionage against Turkey.
Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Gulen will be extradited from the U.S., adding that Turkey has launched the legal procedure for extradition of Gulen.
There are four types of passports In Turkey: passport with burgundy cover for ordinary citizens; passport with a green cover for former MPs and ministers; passport with gray cover for officials of municipalities, Turkish citizens who officially represents the country abroad, senior management of Aviation Association of Turkey and the country's Red Crescent Society.
The fourth type of passport, with black cover is designed for the consular officers, members of parliament, judges of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Military Courts, president, prime minister and foreign minister of Turkey.
Edited by CN