Schroeder calls on Muslims to better integrate in Germany

BERLIN, Nov 19 (AFP) - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder called on Muslims to better integrate themselves in German society, in extracts of a speech he will deliver on Saturday released early to two major newspapers here.
Schroeder warned of a "conflict of cultures" and says Muslims "must clearly and without misunderstanding demonstrate that they accept our legal order and democratic rules."
He said that the state had to insist on the fact that "our willingness to integrate corresponds to a willingness to be integrated on the part of those who come here."
In his speech, to be delivered when Berlin's Jewish museum offers a tolerance prize to former president Johannes Rau, Schroeder placed emphasis on the importance for foreigners living in Germany to learn the language.
"Without linguistic abilities, no integration and no dialogue can take place," he said, in extracts to be published by the Sueddeutsche Zeitung and Frankfurter Rundschau newspapers.
German politicians have been debating the integration of the country's estimated three million Muslims following the killing of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a suspected Islamic extremist on November 2.

11/19/2004 18:40 GMT - AFP