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Turkish president arrives in Germany for three-day visit

Türkiye Materials 18 September 2011 19:35 (UTC +04:00)
Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived Sunday in Germany for a three-day official visit at the invitation of his German counterpart, Christian Wulff.
Turkish president arrives in Germany for three-day visit

Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived Sunday in Germany for a three-day official visit at the invitation of his German counterpart, Christian Wulff, DPA reported.

Gul's visit has been timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Turkey-Germany labour recruitment agreement of 1961, which paved the wave for a massive influx of Turkish workers to Germany.

While in Germany, Gul is to hold meetings with Chancellor Angela Merkel and chair a meeting of the Turkish-German business forum. His visit is also expected to see the signing of a new treaty designed to prevent double taxation.

Relations with the European Union are expected to play a major role during the visit, with a focus on integration of Turkish immigrants and the recent events of the Arab Spring democratic uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East.

Conversely, human rights groups have urged Wulff to bring up the question of Turkish treatment of its Christian and ethnic Kurd populations.

Sunday's schedule consisted entirely of a private programme between Gul and Wulff. The official portion of the visit only starts Monday.

An estimated 3.5 million people of Turkish origin currently live in Germany.

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