German foreign minister challenges Turkish premier in language row

Mon, 28 Feb 2011

Berlin - German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Monday contradicted Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said a day earlier Turkish children in Germany should learn their mother tongue first.

"Children growing up in Germany must learn German first and foremost," Westerwelle said. Otherwise they would be disadvantaged at school and have worse chances later in life.

"The German language is the key to integration for those growing up in Germany," the foreign minister added.

On Sunday, Erdogan warned Turks living in Germany against losing their own culture, at a speech to compatriots in the German city of Dusseldorf.

"I say yes to integration," the Turkish premier said. But he rejected complete assimilation, insisting, "Nobody will be able to tear us away from our culture."

"Our children must learn German, but first they must learn Turkish," Erdogan added.

Around three million ethnic Turks live in Germany, forming the country's largest Muslim group.

Later in the day, Erdogan is to join German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the inauguration of the CeBit information technology fair in Hanover, where Turkey is this year's official partner country.

Erdogan's ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is gearing up for parliamentary elections in June. Turkish citizens living in Germany can participate by postal vote.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/369476,turkish-premier-language-row.html.