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Heiko Maas (left) at the virtual G20 foreign ministers' meeting on Afghanistan
Photo: Felix Zahn / photothek.net / imago images / photothek
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas described Afghanistan as the “greatest challenge” facing the international community.
The SPD politician said on Wednesday at the deliberations of the most important economic powers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
At the G20 video conference, Maas made four demands on the new Taliban government in Afghanistan:
Humanitarian aid organizations should have unhindered access to the country.
Afghans wishing to leave the country should be able to leave the country safely.
In addition, the Taliban must prevent Afghanistan from becoming a hotbed of international terrorism again.
In addition, the government must protect human rights and include other population groups in its ranks, said Maas.
It was a "tactical mistake" by the Taliban to initially forego a so-called inclusive government.
"This decision will make it more difficult for us to maintain contact with them."
The world's largest economic powers are united in the G20 group.
This includes China and Russia, which did not close their embassies in Kabul after the Taliban came to power.
The militant Islamist Taliban took power in Afghanistan in mid-August.
Germany, the US and other Western countries hold talks with them but do not recognize them as legitimate governments.
Maas also said at the video conference: "As the G20, however, we should not only use our economic strength, but also our political weight to influence the decisions of the new rulers in Afghanistan."
Maas rejects "show performances" by the Taliban at the UN
After taking power in Afghanistan, the Taliban also want to officially represent the country on the UN stage.
In a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Chan Motaki asked for the right to speak at the current 76th General Debate of the UN General Assembly.
Maas spoke out against such an appearance on Wednesday.
"I don't think it's helpful to do shows at the United Nations," he said.
"In my opinion, a speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations is not (...) the appropriate framework in which to really make progress on the matter."
On Thursday Maas will take part in a meeting on cooperation with Afghanistan's neighboring countries.
In the afternoon he ends his participation in the UN General Assembly in New York.
aar / dpa