Turkey welcomes Merkel's multiculturalism comments

Turkey's foreign minister says he hopes the German president's recent comments about Islam now being part of Germany will help reduce xenophobia in that country.



ANKARA, Turkey - Ahmet Davutoglu was speaking in Kuwait Monday hours before German President Christian Wulff begins a five-day visit to Turkey.Wulff sparked a debate in Germany by saying "Islam now also belongs to Germany" in a speech marking 20 years of country's reunification.Davutoglu said Wulff's comments should pave the way for co-operation between Muslims and Christians in Germany. His comments were carried by the state-run Anatolia news agency.Germany has long been home to a large Turkish community and their integration is expected to loom large during talks.Wulff will become the first German president to address Turkey's parliament on Tuesday. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS