Berlin, Sept 27 (NNN-QNA) The German federal minister behind a bid this week to draw Muslims into the German mainstream called Monday for blunt talks with the 15 figures appointed to represent Islam.

The Islam conference on Wednesday is expected to kick off two to three years of talks aimed at introducing Islam classes in German schools as well as persuading Muslims to accept German institutions, the German news agency (DPA) reported.

Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said: “Islam is now a part of Germany. The conference should be blunt about the problems. “

“We’re not starting an event where we are just going to say friendly things,� he said in an interview to be published Tuesday in the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung. Islam must accept the ground rules and values that constitute Germany and Europe.

Officials have already said they plan to ask Muslim leaders to help fight terrorism, but also to offer government funding to train pro-western imams (Islamic preachers) at colleges in Germany.

the government has appointed 15 figures to represent the 3.2 million to 3.5 million out of Germany’s population of 82 million who are of Muslim heritage. Five of the 15 represent mosque communities.