The German government is yet to decide whether high-ranking officials will visit the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later in the year, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on Friday.
Faeser, whose portfolio includes sports, made the announcement after a conference of the 16 state sports ministers in Hamburg.
Qatar has been under fire over human rights violations.
This is mainly in connection with the treatment of migrant workers, in the run-up to the Nov. 21 to Dec. 18 tournament for which Germany is qualified.
Improvements have been made but rights groups have said that more needs to be done.
Faeser said it would be important to see whether these improvements are really taking place and added: “I consider such a process essential.”
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck visited Qatar last month, with talks including a long-term energy partnership.
This has come as Germany aims to be less dependent on Russian gas in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Faeser said that every event must be treated on its own.
She also pointed out that Qatar is helping Germany fly its former local forces out of Afghanistan after the Taliban regained power there.
“In that respect we have a, carefully-worded, cooperation,” Faeser said.
Several countries led by the U.S. and Britain had staged a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, citing human rights violations in China.
Germany and China had also sent no government officials but stopped short of calling it a boycott.(dpa/NAN)
