Qatar is considered an important mediator in the Middle East and has helpful contacts in Afghanistan. The Chancellor receives the Emir of the rich Gulf state at a special location.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz thanked the Emir of Qatar for his country’s mediation efforts to achieve a hostage rescue and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza war. In the conversation with Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Meseberg Castle near Berlin, Scholz expressed his hope that the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar would open up the opportunity for a corresponding agreement, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
“Both agreed that increased diplomatic efforts are needed for a sustainable peace.” The Israeli-Palestinian relationship is of particular importance. Both agreed that a political process towards a two-state solution must be initiated.
Rare honor: Scholz receives Emir in the government palace
The Emir visited Scholz for the second time in a year and this time was received at Meseberg Castle, the federal government’s guest house north of Berlin – a special honor. Scholz rarely meets visitors from abroad there, most recently French President Emmanuel Macron.
It is a sign of how important Scholz sees Qatar’s geopolitical role. The small country with its huge natural gas reserves has close relations with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the USA, with Hezbollah in Lebanon, with Iran and with the Taliban in Afghanistan. The emirate therefore plays an important role in mediating in the Middle East conflict and helps the federal government in deporting criminals from Germany to Afghanistan.
Criticism of financial support for Hamas
But there is also massive criticism of the human rights situation there and of the financial support for Hamas. “Hamas has expanded its military position in the Gaza Strip, primarily with the help of Iran, but also with the help of Qatar,” said Islamic scholar Wolfram Steinberg to the editorial network Germany (RND). “While Iran financed weapons, Hamas used Qatari aid for infrastructure and thus also for tunnel construction, which has proven to be a major problem for months. Doha is responsible for this.”
Not a word about deportations to Afghanistan
In his statement, Hebestreit did not comment on the question of whether Qatar would continue to help Germany deport Afghan criminals. In August, 28 criminals were brought from Leipzig to Kabul on a Qatar Airways plane. The federal government itself has no official contacts with the radical Islamic Taliban and is therefore dependent on help with deportations.
Cooperation should be expanded “in all its dimensions”.
On the subject of Afghanistan, Hebestreit simply stated that Scholz had expressed “his appreciation for Qatar’s role at the high-level United Nations meetings on Afghanistan.” Both also underlined the “close and diverse partnership between Germany and Qatar and declared their intention to expand cooperation “in all its dimensions”. These “dimensions” also include the economic aspects. The Gulf emirate is very interested in investing in Germany and wants to sell his liquid gas here.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
