Berlin: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on November 3 that FIFA World Cup host Qatar had made progress on human rights concerns following tensions between the two countries.
“We, as the German government, addressed questions about human rights and the rights of workers who built the stadiums early on,” he told regional daily Aller Zeitung. “We looked at it very closely and have seen progress.”
Germany’s ambassador to Doha was summoned last week after its Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup was “very tricky” from Berlin’s perspective and that “it would be better that tournaments are not awarded to such states”.
Faeser gave a more positive assessment after meeting with Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Scholz said the progress Berlin observed included better labour conditions in the Gulf country.
“They’re on the right track, but not yet finished. We encourage further progress on this path and will keep paying attention, also after the World Cup,” he said.
Germany play Japan in their opening match on November 23.
Source. AFP
