- Title: G7 need to talk about extending evacuations deadline from Kabul, Germany says
- Date: 23rd August 2021
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 23, 2021) (CORONA POOL) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER HEIKO MAAS ARRIVING FOR STATEMENT WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, HEIKO MAAS, SAYING: "The situation at Kabul airport has continued to get more and more chaotic over the past hours. The situation remains dangerous and for this reason we do not currently recommend going to the airport on your own unless there is a certainty, based on the situation on the ground, that people will be able to get inside the military airport area. And that, of course, complicates our evacuation mission." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, HEIKO MAAS, SAYING: "Firstly, we are talking with the U.S., Turkey and other partners with the aim of facilitating a civil operation at Kabul airport to enable the evacuation of people (beyond August 31). We will also have to continue to talk about this with the Taliban, who will of course have a special role to play in the operation of the airport after the withdrawal of American troops." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, HEIKO MAAS, SAYING: "There are discussions in the U.S. about whether it will even be possible to fly out all American citizens in the remaining time. This is extremely questionable and that is why they are considering extending this mission. However, this will only be the case if the security conditions are given, because both the soldiers who are on the ground and the diplomatic personnel, and also those whom we want to fly out, can be flown out with the highest possible security. And if that is no longer guaranteed, then it will certainly not be possible to extend this mission in the interest of all concerned. This is currently being coordinated very intensively and very closely." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, HEIKO MAAS, SAYING: "I think there are two things that are particularly important. Firstly, that we coordinate the further evacuation measures, questions like how long will the evacuation mission last at all? Will it go beyond 31 August or not? How can we improve cooperation on the ground to ensure access to the airport?" WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, HEIKO MAAS, SAYING: "And certainly the topic of migration as a general topic will also have to be discussed. How will the migration flows be dealt with? Who will be taking on which responsibilities and who can take on which tasks in the process?" WHITE FLASH MAAS LEAVING
- Embargoed: 6th September 2021 16:32
- Keywords: G7 Heiko Maas afghanistan evacuations foreign minister kabul airport
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA001ERI3FPJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised countries need to coordinate evacuation efforts from Kabul airport and decide whether they should continue beyond the August 31 deadline set by the United States, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday (August 23).
At their summit on Tuesday, G7 leaders will also discuss how to improve access for evacuees at the airport, Maas told reporters in Berlin.
He also said that Germany has been looking at options for keeping the airport running beyond August 31.
Mass said discussions were ongoing with the U.S and other allies about facilitating evacuation beyond the deadline and that talks with Taliban were also crucial due to the fact they will likely assume control of the airport once American forces have vacated it.
Thousands of people have been gathering at the airport in the hope of catching an evacuation flight ever since Taliban fighters entered Kabul on August 15.
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