Bagis urges Germany's Turks to learn the language

Seeking to calm the immigration debate in Germany, State Minister and Chief EU Talks Negotiator Egemen Bagis yesterday called on the 2.5 million Turks living there to learn the language and integrate into society. "I ask all my Turkish compatriots and all Germans of Turkish origin: Learn German. Adapt to the customs and conventions of your adopted country," Bagis told Bild daily. "You should not give up the gift of your identity and your culture, but should consider yourselves ambassadors for Turkey. Only in this way can you build bridges for a better friendship and partnership between our countries." Deputy German Foreign Minister Werner Hoyer praised Bagis's remarks as showing a "genuinely European engagement."