German Chancellor Merz Praises Contributions of Turkish Immigrants

At the anniversary event of the Germany-Turkey Labor Recruitment Agreement, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the contributions made by Turkish immigrants to the country's development and issued warnings against xenophobia.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that migration from Turkey to Germany has made significant contributions to the country's cultural, economic, and scientific development. Speaking at the event organized by the German government titled "65 Years of Shared History - Anniversary of the Germany-Turkey Labor Recruitment Agreement," Merz drew attention to the difficult working and living conditions of the first generation of Turkish workers who came to Germany. Recalling that the daily life of the first generation largely consisted of working and sleeping, Merz expressed that the Turkish guest workers contributed to the formation of Germany's industrial structure and laid the infrastructure for today's prosperity. In his speech, Merz gave Aras Ören, Deniz Utlu, Fatih Akın, İlkay Gündoğan, Uğur Şahin, and Özlem Türeci as examples. Pointing out the rise in xenophobia, Merz recalled racist acts of violence and emphasized that social achievements must be protected. Speaking at the event, Turkey's Ambassador to Berlin, Gökhan Turan, stated that relations between the two countries represent a vibrant and dynamic partnership, emphasizing the need for visa liberalization.