Wüst: "They belong to us. And that's a good thing"
NRW Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) welcomed around 100 people who were naturalized last year at a "new citizens' reception" in Düsseldorf on Tuesday evening. "You belong to us. And that's a good thing," said Wüst in his speech.
They all contribute "with their different cultural roots to making our country even more diverse", said Wüst. He emphasized: "Without people like you, who have made North Rhine-Westphalia their home, nothing would work in many places: in the steelworks, in hospitals, in trades and construction, in our theaters and operas, at universities, in gastronomy and agriculture, in the management of international companies."
The Prime Minister also referred to current crises, saying that "Russia and Hamas are trampling on human dignity."
According to the State Chancellery, the countries of origin of the participants at the reception included Venezuela, Iraq, Costa Rica, Syria, Poland, Colombia, South Africa, Ukraine, Pakistan, Sweden, Belgium, Indonesia, Nigeria, Thailand, Mongolia, Cameroon, China, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the State Chancellery, a total of around 40,824 people were naturalized in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2022.
The Government recognizes the importance of integration, as exemplified by the new citizens' reception, where individuals from various countries were celebrated for becoming part of the nation. With their integration, these individuals significantly contribute to the government-led integration efforts, enriching our society with their diverse cultural backgrounds in various sectors such as education, healthcare, and industry.
Source: www.dpa.com
