Germany: Merkel calls Afghanistan developments ‘dreadful’ in parliament address

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the latest developments in Afghanistan were ‘dreadful and bitter’, speaking in the Bundestag in Berlin on Wednesday.

The parliament members gathered for a special meeting to debate the government’s response to the crisis.

“We have underestimated how extensive, and as a result how unbelievably quick, the Afghan military forces would give up their resistance against the Taliban, or rather would not even pick it up, after the withdrawal of the international troops,” said Merkel.

The Chancellor added that Germany will continue supporting aid organisations in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries.

“The German government intends therefore, apart from the 100 million immediate help, to provide further 500 million euros humanitarian aid for refugees in Afghanistan and surrounding countries who are taking in Afghan refugees,” she said.

SOUNDBITES:

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): “Since the withdrawal of the international troops, we could witness how the Taliban, within a short period of time, took back provinces and cities and are about to take over control over the whole country.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): “The developments of the past days are dreadful they are bitter and for a lot of people in Afghanistan they are a complete tragedy, but especially for those who stood up for a free society, for democracy and education and who are now fearing for their safety.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): “That the withdrawal of the international troops would put the Afghan government and the Afghan military forces under significant political and military pressure was known to everybody before.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): “And it was known from the beginning that the whole operation would stand and fall with the militarily strongest in the coalition, the United States.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): “We have underestimated how extensive, and as a result how unbelievably quick, the Afghan military forces would give up their resistance against the Taliban, or rather would not even pick it up, after the withdrawal of the international troops.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): “And therefore, in these days and on all levels, it has been worked intensively on how we can find ways to protect those who supported us, for example through a civil operation of the airport in Kabul.’’

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): “Therefore it is important to help those people in Afghanistan who are in need of it and furthermore to ensure that refugees in the surrounding regions and countries of Afghanistan find security, peace and perspective.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): ”The German government intends therefore, apart from the 100 million immediate help, to provide further 500 million euros humanitarian aid for refugees in Afghanistan and surrounding countries who are taking in Afghan refugees.”

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): “We achieved the goal that stood at the beginning of the operation in 2001. There were no international terrorist attacks being committed from Afghanistan.”

#Merkel #Afghanistan #AfghanistanConflict

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