Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of Germany, arrived in Turkey
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of Germany, arrived in Turkey on Monday, April 22. This is his first visit to Turkey since assuming the presidency seven years ago. He was welcomed in Istanbul by Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, who is one of the most popular political figures opposing Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey.
The official reason for this visit is the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and the Republic of Turkey. During his visit, Steinmeier intends to express his appreciation for the migrant workers who came to Germany from this country starting in the early 1960s and to engage in conversations with those citizens who have experienced migration to Germany.
Following an agreement signed between Germany and Turkey in 1961, hundreds of thousands of Turks went to Germany as guest workers. Steinmeier’s office described this visit as a sign of the close relations between the two countries and stated that its purpose is especially to appreciate the achievements of the millions of citizens of Turkish descent in Germany, who are considered an inseparable part of the country’s history.