- Title: Deportations from Germany to Afghanistan to be suspended
- Date: 11th August 2021
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 11, 2021) (CORONA POOL) GERMANY FOREIGN MINISTER HEIKO MAAS AND COUNTERPART FROM BAHRAIN, ABDULLATIF BIN RASHID AL ZAYANI, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMANY FOREIGN MINISTER, HEIKO MAAS, SAYING (on IRAN): "I think there is a lot of agreement on the goal that Iran should never have nuclear weapons or even develop them. And we remain convinced that a full return to the JCPOA (The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) is the best way to ensure that. That is precisely why we now expect Iran to return to the negotiating table in Vienna as soon as possible, with the necessary flexibility and willingness to compromise on an agreement. If we do not want to jeopardise what has been achieved so far in Vienna, then the negotiation process cannot be delayed forever." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMANY FOREIGN MINISTER, HEIKO MAAS, SAYING (on STOP TO DEPORTATIONS TO AFGHANISTAN): "I welcome the decision taken today by the interior minister (Horst Seehofer). We have also been in close contact within the Federal Government on these issues in recent days. In the same way, however, we have also been in intensive dialogue with the Afghan government in recent days about developments on the ground there. Some time ago, the Afghan government asked us to suspend repatriation flights until the end of October. We are now complying with this request. I think that is the right thing to do." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMANY FOREIGN MINISTER, HEIKO MAAS, SAYING (on ARRESTED BRITISH SPY): "We take the indications that the intelligence activities of the arrested man were carried out on behalf of a Russian intelligence service extremely seriously. Spying on a close ally on German soil is absolutely unacceptable and we stand in full solidarity with our British friends. We will follow the further investigations of the Federal Prosecutor very closely. And where this is desired, necessary and possible, we will also support them."
- Embargoed: 25th August 2021 14:52
- Keywords: Afghanistan Al Zayani Bahrain Germany Iran Maas spy
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001EPU3VIF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS WHITE FLASHES
Germany will suspend deportations to Afghanistan until the end of October following a request by the Afghan government, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Wednesday (August 11).
"We are now complying with this request. I think that is also the right thing to do," Maas told reporters, adding that the Berlin government's next situation report would reflect a clear deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan in recent weeks.
Maas then urged Iran to return to the Vienna negotiations on reviving a nuclear deal as soon as possible.
Germany's foreign minister also commented on the arrest of a British man who worked at the British embassy in Berlin on suspicion of passing documents to the Russian intelligence service in exchange for cash.
"Spying on a close ally on German soil is absolutely unacceptable and we stand in full solidarity with our British friends," Maas said during a joint news conference with his Bahraini counterpart.
(Production: Stephan Schepers) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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