BERLIN - Turkish Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said on Monday that the Turkish government wanted to sign a bilateral agreement with the German government on Turkish people who lost their German citizenship after retaking up Turkish citizenship as of January 1st, 2000.
Aksu, who is currently paying an official visit to Germany, met German Interior Minister Otto Schily in Berlin.
Holding a news conference following the meeting, Aksu said, ''several Turkish people applied to us to retake Turkish citizenship after some political parties in Germany promised to accept dual citizenship before 2000. The German government adopted the Migration Law in 2005. The relevant article of the law says that foreigners, who gave up their German citizenship, could apply to retake citizenship within six months. However, the article is not clear. We want to clarify it through meetings with German officials since the issue has humanitarian dimension.''
''About 2,6 million Turkish people live in Germany. Our meeting has focused on problems stemming from implementation of citizenship laws in Turkey and Germany,'' he said.
Noting that they also discussed illegal activities of the terrorist organization PKK/Kongra-Gel in Germany, Aksu told reporters, ''we decided to cooperate. Turkey and Germany have already signed an agreement on cooperation in fight against terrorism and organized crimes. Now, we want to put that agreement into force.''
Stressing that Turkey attributed special importance to its economic and cultural relations with Germany, Aksu said, ''Germany is one of the most important partners of Turkey. Our trade volume exceeded 21 billion U.S. dollars in 2004. We want to enhance our economic and commercial relations.''
Aksu said, ''German Chancellor Mr. Gerhard Schroeder will visit Turkey in May. We are very pleased with the positive approach of Germany during Turkey's EU accession process as well as its obvious attitude while EU was setting a starting date for entry talks with Turkey.''
''We have fulfilled very serious reforms in all areas and especially in freedoms and rights of people. Our EU member friends also welcome these reforms. Reform activities make Turkey closer to the EU prior to the negotiation process,'' added Aksu.
Meanwhile, Schily said, ''I appreciate Turkey's efforts on its path to EU membership. We have a good cooperation with Turkey in every area, particularly in fight against organized crimes.''