Erdogan, Merkel to discuss issues from assimilation to neo-Nazi attacks

World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkish officials will raise the issue of rights for nearly three million Turks living in Germany ranging from dual citizenship to other rights during talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is slated to visit Turkey next week.

The first issue that is expected to be brought before German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the controversial German language tests.

According to a German immigration law that went into effect in August 2007, a foreign resident in Germany who wants to bring his or her spouse to the country must prove that the partner can earn a living and has some knowledge of German. This has created problems in Turkey, where would-be-spouses of Turks living in Germany have been forced to learn German.

Ankara will ask Germany to ease the law that requires a foreign spouse of a German citizen to have knowledge of German in order to reside in Germany.

Another matter Turkish officials will discuss with Merkel is dual citizenship. Across the European Union, member states grant the right of dual citizenship for Turks but this is not the case in Germany.

About one-third of Turks in Germany hold German citizenship, but have been required to renounce Turkish citizenship since changes to German legislation introduced in 2000. Turks born in Germany are currently allowed time between the age of 18 and 25 to make up their minds over which nationality to choose.

Germany's newly introduced nationality law, which will take effect in 2013, will also be a matter of discussion between the two countries during the chancellor's visit.

The law stipulates that German-born immigrant children either apply to become German nationals or choose to only keep citizenship of their native country by the age of 23. The law has received criticisms from human rights campaigners both in the country and across Europe. Ankara will request that Merkel lift this requirement for children of Turks.

On racist and neo-Nazi attacks, Ankara will seek tighter measures from German authorities against such incidents.

Neo-Nazis are suspected of killing eight people of Turkish origin and a Greek man between 2000 and 2006, as well as a policewoman in 2007.

The string of killings of small businessmen, including a florist, a tailor and fast-food stall owners -- long known as the "kebab murders" -- went unsolved for years, with authorities suspecting organized crime rather than politically motivated violence.

Concern over far-right violence has flared periodically in Germany over the past two decades, but the country hasn't previously seen anything like the campaign of murder attributed to the National Socialist Underground, the main neo-Nazi group in question.

Another matter of discussion will be adoption of Turkish children by German families, and Turkey will ask German authorities to prevent families from culturally assimilating the Turkish children.

Ankara will also ask Merkel to facilitate the process for Turkish citizens in Germany to participate in elections in Turkey through poll centers both in consulates and elsewhere.

Source http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=103718