Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) did not leave alone the citizens abroad on their journey to the Homeland Road. YTB, with the realized activities, accompanied the citizens who started their journey from Europe’s different locations to arrive at homeland Turkey to spend their leaves and vacations. Along with various activities at border gates of Turkey and within the country, the greetings beyond the borders of Turkey that are implemented this year became the most favored activity by our citizens. On the return of our citizens, the greetings activities were replaced with farewell activities. President of YTB, Abdullah Eren and his YTB delegation in the past few days traveled to Serbia from Kapıkule border gate and made in-situ inspections of the practices and services offered on the Homeland Road route.

First greeting beyond borders

Through the collaboration of YTB and the Ministries of Interior of Turkey and Serbia, our citizens are greeted for the first time this year beyond the borders of Turkey at Serbian border gates with Turkish police and Turkish-Serbian speaking YTB personnel and international students who receive scholarships from YTB. Turkish police on duty at the border gates of Serbia to Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary, and the YTB personnel offering services from provision of needs and technical assistance to translation services played an important role in meeting many of the demands of citizens. The services offered to the citizens were not just limited with that. YTB vehicles that waited 7/24 at the designated border gates worked in shuttles to offer uninterrupted help to citizens, and YTB call center and support desk established close to the city of Niš also provided 7/24 non-stop support. The officials of YTB who spoke Turkish and Serbian assisted 50 citizens in courts of Serbia, whereas offered road support to 400 citizens since their vehicles were out of order. Also, they personally took care of 20 citizens who experienced accidents during their hospital and court procedures. Translation services were provided to approximately 1,500 citizens for the disputes they have experienced. Also, the citizens were able to receive information regarding the problems they have experienced on Serbia transits through the call line “+381638162030” or receive information regarding the condition of their route through WhatsApp messages.

Services continued at border gates and within country

The services directed at citizens coming homeland Turkey continued at border gates and within the country in cooperation with the related local authorities and municipalities. The citizens were greeted at Kapıkule border gate with the YTB stand and offered treats, and they also received support through informative documents, and the children were distributed entertaining materials.

Returns Made Easy

The activities carried out in the greeting process continued in an enhanced form in the return process as well. A parking lot with 1,500 vehicle capacity as well as recreational areas were provided in collaboration with Governorate of Edirne at Kapıkule Border Gate. In order to minimize the long and tiresome queues, queue ticket dispensers were placed at the gates that offered transit number and duration. Again, other activities for provision of needs and treats at the border gates were carried out to support citizens every moment.

President of YTB Eren: “We Can’t Stand Indifferent to Homeland Road”

President of YTB Abdullah Eren made an in-situ inspection of the activities offered on the Homeland Road route and made the following evaluations: “We have offered various services at our borders, beyond our borders and within the country so as to have our citizens experience a comfortable process. We wanted to see on the site what our citizens go through and the problems they face on Homeland Road that our citizens use. The difficulties they experience in Serbia are almost removed totally with our police force and our personnel on duty. Our slogan is “Where is a citizen, there we are.” And we do what is required with this slogan. In the coming year, we shall offer these services in a more improved manner. We can’t stand indifferent to Homeland Road.”

The Head of the Border Police of Serbia, Milan Stanojevic said, “The biggest problems in transits were language and disagreements. Now, these problems are solved. This practice came out really helpful.” He also stated that: “We are together to solve common problems. The wait time has been decreased. We are solving other problems together as well. Thus, the heavy criticisms disappeared.”