Merkel in Turkey

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in Ankara for the start of her two-day visit in Turkey.

The first stop for the German Chancellor is the mausoleum of Turkish state founder Ataturk. Afterwards Merkel is set to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Talks are expected to focus on the German head of state's opposition to European Union membership for the predominantly Muslim country. Merkel favors a privileged partnership with the EU, while Turkey wants full membership.

Over the weekend, Turkish premier Erdogan rejected a German proposal to give the country "special status." Berlin does not want Turkey to enter the EU as a full member, preferring a more limited arrangement.

But the Turkish leader said the country would not be dissuaded from its quest to join the EU.

"We are already in negotiations for full membership," said Erdogan, dismissing the German suggestion. "When proposals are made that differ from this framework, it's like shifting the goal post during a penalty kick in a soccer match – absurd."

Tough conversations

Merkel and Erdogan are expected to discuss a range of further issues, including some on which the leaders do not see eye to eye.

Possible points of disagreement include proposed sanctions against Iran, the Middle East peace process and the integration of Turkish immigrants into German society.

Possible sanctions for Iran

The leaders are also likely to discuss their radically different strategies for dealing with Iran and its suspected nuclear ambitions. Merkel supports the possibility of sanctions.

"If Iran does not in the end show transparency over the question of nuclear energy, we must also consider sanctions," Merkel said in a video message posted on her official website on Saturday. "This will be a topic of discussion in Ankara."

However, Erdogan said he felt sanctions would not work, preferring negotiations. "There have already been multiple sanctions placed on Iran, but what is the result?" he told the German news magazine Der Spiegel.

Turkish schools in Germany?

Ankara and Berlin also disagree on the integration of immigrants in German society. In her video address, Merkel called for greater efforts to teach Turkish immigrants to speak German fluently.

"What we want is people who live among us over several generations to integrate into this country, meaning being included in social advances, in working life and in family life."

"That obviously involves learning the German language and obeying German laws," she said.

Prime Minister Erdogan said last week that immigrants from his country needed more schools in Germany where they could be taught in Turkish. Erdogan has previously told immigrants living in Germany that to lose their culture would be a "crime against humanity."

After meeting with Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul in Ankara on Monday evening, the chancellor will fly to Istanbul, where she is expected to visit the German-speaking Protestant community.

smh/rc/Reuters/dpa/AFP
Editor: Rob Turner