Sheikh breakdown during Steinmeier's visit to Qatar
It's not going well.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (67) lands in Doha on time at 10.10 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday to talk to the Emir of Qatar. Sheikh Tamim Al Thani (43) is an important negotiator between the terrorist organization Hamas and Israel, negotiating the release of the hostages.
However, the Emir is apparently not ready to receive Steinmeier after he lands. The delegation gradually leaves the plane. Steinmeier's wife Elke Büdenbender (61) also descends the stairs and is driven away in a limousine. Steinmeier stands at the top of the stairs of the plane with a grumpy face and folded arms, looking down at the red carpet and the Qatari guard of honor already lined up.
It hangs. Judging by his face, Steinmeier's mood is about as low as the corners of his mouth. His head of protocol runs down the stairs, somewhat startled, makes a phone call and hurries back up to the president.
The BKA bodyguards are waiting on the tarmac. A German security guard asks his Qatari colleague. Shrugs, perplexity.
The message is told: Actually, the Federal President should have been drinking tea at the airport to kill time. But Steinmeier obviously didn't want to do that, preferring instead to wait at the top of the stairs.
Finally, after almost 30 minutes in almost 30-degree sunshine, the meeting gets underway. The delegation that had already driven up to the emir has arrived at the Qatari ruler's palace and the emir now also seems to be ready. The German government says: "Everything was exactly as planned." The President's face continues to speak a different language. Steinmeier walks down the stairs and is greeted by Sultan Al Muraikhi, the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs. They immediately discuss the Gaza Strip. "We need a solution for the Palestinian people," says the Qatari.
The German president talks and eats with the Qatari emir for an hour and a half. Al Thaini refuses a joint press conference or even a statement with Steinmeier. He does not like free press from democracies. But it doesn't help. The Emir plays too important a role in the crisis in the Middle East.
Steinmeier offers hope for German hostages
After an hour and a half of talks and a meal with the emir, Steinmeier comes out of the palace. And he is in a pretty good mood. The Federal President is hopeful that the German hostages held captive by Hamas terrorists for seven weeks will soon be released.
Steinmeier: "I hope that we will receive good news in the next few days." The Federal President expressed his "explicit thanks to the Emir that Qatar is using its influence on Hamas."
Eleven German hostages have now been released, but around the same number of German citizens are still being held by the terrorists. Naturally, Steinmeier said, he had used his three-hour stay in Doha to ask the Emir to continue his efforts for the hostages.
According to Steinmeier, however, it is far too early for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Only when all hostages have been released and the Hamas terrorists are "no longer a murderous threat to Israel" could a political negotiation process between Israel and the Palestinians begin. "Many hands and heads are needed for this in the region," said Steinmeier. And he had the impression that Qatar was ready for this.
The Federal President brings a little hope for the families of the German hostages. And he himself visibly enjoys the fact that he, who loved being foreign minister, was able to get involved in major world diplomacy in Qatar.
- Despite Qatar's crucial role in negotiating the release of hostages between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, the Emir was initially unwilling to meet with German President Steinmeier upon his arrival.
- The political tensions between Germany and Qatar were evident when Steinmeier had to wait at the top of the plane's stairs for over 30 minutes, while the Qatari guard of honor was already lined up on the red carpet.
- During his visit to Qatar, Steinmeger expressed his hope for the release of German hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, for which he thanked the Emir for using Qatar's influence.
