Wüst, premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, called for a “new chapter” in ties with Turkey as he began a three-day visit Monday. The trip marks 65 years since the 1961 agreement allowing Turkish “guest workers” to work in West Germany.
The Federal Statistical Office estimates that 3 million people of Turkish origin live in Germany, just over half of them with German nationality. Wüst said one-third live in North Rhine-Westphalia and described people of Turkish origin as part of the state.
In Ankara on Monday, Wüst is due to visit a Henkel plant and the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with a meeting with Turkish business figures planned. Tuesday’s political talks are followed by a trip to Istanbul for a business conference and a prize presentation to former Germany football captain İlkay Gündoğan. Wüst has dismissed speculation about challenging for the chancellorship, saying he wants to remain North Rhine-Westphalia’s premier.
