Status: 04.10.2021 5:30 p.m.
The parliamentary groups of the SPD, Greens, FDP and also the Union had canceled the appointment in the middle of the exploratory negotiations. Nevertheless, the Federal Defense Minister wants to discuss the Afghanistan mission on Wednesday.
Although defense politicians from several parliamentary groups canceled the appointment, Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer wants to start the debate on the use of the Bundeswehr in Afghanistan on Wednesday. Reports would then be made available to the absent parliamentary groups, said a Defense Ministry spokesman.
The parliamentary groups of the SPD, Greens, FDP and also the Union had previously criticized the setting of the date. To put the date in the middle of the exploratory phase for a new government, is “completely inappropriate”.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and the General Inspector of the German Armed Forces, Eberhard Zorn, will take part in the all-day event entitled “20 Years of Afghanistan – Starting Shot for a Balance Sheet Debate”. In addition, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is to speak a greeting.
Appreciation to the soldiers
A tribute to the Afghanistan mission is also planned for October 13th. This is owed to the soldiers, so the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense. However, the commitment must also be assessed by the highest superiors. “Overall, we have to talk openly about what was good, what was not good and what we have learned,” said the ministry spokesman.
Criticism of the communication style
In the past few months there had been repeated complaints about the communication style of Kramp-Karrenbauer, for example during the Bundeswehr reform or the reorganization of the KSK elite unit. The date for the Afghanistan mission so shortly after the federal election was also criticized weeks ago.