Berlin – German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Tuesday in Berlin called on people living in Germany with Turkish origins to remain loyal to their country of residence.
“We expect people of Turkish origin living in Germany for a longer period to develop a high level of loyalty to our country,’’ she said.
Merkel said in exchange for loyalty from Germany’s Turkish-origin residents, her government would “try to keep an open ear for their needs and to understand them.
“We are already in close contact with migrant organisations for this purpose.
“Germany is home to about three million people of Turkish heritage,’’ she said.
Merkel urged followers of Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, in Germany to remain peaceful.
“Everybody in Germany has the right to an opinion and to demonstrate, but all people should also peacefully exercise their right to free speech,“ she said.
German-Turkish relation has deteriorated in recent months amid disputes over migration, Berlin’s decision to recognize mass killing of ethnic-Armenians a century ago as genocide, and Ankara’s far-reaching purge of state institutions in response to failed coup.
In early August, a court ruling stopped the Turkish president from addressing more than 40,000 supporters at a Cologne rally over a live stream video link, causing further friction between Berlin and Ankara. (dpa/NAN)
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