The German chancellor says her country's attempts to build a multicutural society have "uttery failed". Do you think it's possible for different cultures to live together harmoniously?

Speaking in Potsdam Angela Merkel said allowing people of different cultural backgrounds live to side by side without integrating had not worked in Germany.

According to a recent survey, more than 30% of Germans believed that their country was "overrun by foreigners". Mrs Merkel also stressed that immigrants who lived in Germany needed to do more to integrate, including learning to speak German.

What is your reaction to the German chancellor's statement? Should minorities retain their culture? Or should they assimilate? Does multiculturalism have benefits and what are they?

Thank you for your comments. This debate is now closed.