Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis attended Saudi Arabian national day reception in Istanbul on Tuesday. Bagis told an AA correspondent that Turkey was the first country to recognize Saudi Arabia and voiced his pleasure to attend the reception. He said Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of Turkey and the first president, supported Saudi Arabia and considered it as one of the most important allies in the region and added that perception did not change during the last 80 years. Speaking on the European Court of Justice\'s verdict on Turkish citizens\' visa-free travel in European Union countries, he said Turkish citizens will travel Europe visa-free just like Turkey lifted visa requirement with 70 countries. Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu, foreign dignitaries and members of press attended the national day reception as well.