The Turkish government argues that it already takes in some 5 million refugees

Turkey will not take in more Afghan refugees and denies Europe's request to do so

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The Turkish government warned again today that it cannot take in more Afghan refugees and denied that Europe has asked it to do so.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu told a press conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas on Sunday that "it was out of the question for us to deal with an additional refugee burden any longer".

"We have fulfilled our moral and humanitarian responsibilities with regard to migration," he added after a meeting with Maas in the Turkish city of Antalya.

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The Turkish government argues that it already hosts some 5 million refugees, including 3.7 million Syrians and some 300,000 Afghans.

The head of Turkish diplomacy denied that Germany has asked Turkey to take in Afghan refugees who are fleeing their country after the Taliban takeover of Kabul.

"This offer has not reached us. Neither from Germany nor from other countries," he said.

Maas, who will visit Qatar, Uzbekistan and Pakistan next week, warned that it is necessary to "prevent another humanitarian catastrophe" to avoid a wave of refugees like the one that occurred in Europe in 2015 due to the civil war in Syria.

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On the other hand, Çavusoglu stated that they are still in contact with the Taliban and reiterated that the Islamist group has asked Ankara to manage Kabul airport.

"Airport security is a very serious issue, we continue to evaluate the matter," the Turkish minister said, adding that the Taliban must offer security guarantees.

"The terrorist attack in Kabul shows again how fragile the situation in the country is," he said.

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