Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, due to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel this weekend, will raise his government's concerns over a new bill that would toughen requirements for Turkish immigrants to settle in Germany.

The bill, approved by the German Cabinet last month, would require the spouses of residents to pass a language test before being allowed to settle in Germany. It allows exemptions for several countries, including Australia, South Korea and Honduras.

Claudia Roth, a Green Party deputy who visited Turkey earlier this month, criticized Merkel for pushing for the bill and said the legislation will add to racism at home and encourage nationalist isolation abroad. Roth added that the bill, which also tries to prevent forced marriages by raising the age of spouses allowed to enter Germany and requires some newcomers to submit a digital photograph and fingerprints, was discriminatory since it allows exemptions for several countries.

Roth, accompanied on her visit by other members of the Turkish caucus in the German parliament, discussed the matter with Turkish officials, including Prime Minister Erdoðan, during the trip.

Erdoðan, who will attend the Hanover Industry Fair, is expected to tell Merkel that Turkey favors integration of Turks into German society but opposes measures that would lead to their exclusion. He will also raise other issues when he meets Merkel. One of these is Turkey's bid to join the EU. Candidate Turkey wants the EU's German presidency to work toward the opening of a few more negotiating chapters before its six-month term expires in July. Erdoðan is expected to tell Merkel that opening talks on more chapters will be a strong sign that Turkey's membership is progressing.

The German presidency's plans to put into force EU-wide legislation that would introduce penalties for denial of the crime of genocide are also on Erdoðan's agenda. Turkey is concerned at the implications of this legislation, fearing that an alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire could also be covered by it. Erdoðan is expected to tell Merkel that the legislation contradicts international law and that it would restrict academic freedom and freedom of expression if endorsed. He is also expected to warn Merkel that its passage would further complicate Turkey's relations with the EU.

Source: Today's Zaman

Güncelleme Tarihi: 20 Eylül 2018, 18:16