Portugal leader denies problems with Qatar after ‘hostile comment’ row

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Augusto Santos Silva, president of Portugal’s parliament, insisted that bilateral relations with Qatar remain positive on Monday after a row related to criticisms over human rights.

Speaking to reporters from Qatar, Santos Silva said the 1,500 Portuguese residents in the gulf country “can be calm.”

Last week, Portuguese and Spanish media reported that the Qatari government summoned the Portuguese ambassador after “hostile comments” from Portugal’s president and prime minister.

“Qatar doesn’t respect human rights, but in the end, we’ll forget that” to focus on football, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said earlier in the week.

“The World Cup is [in Qatar], and when we go there, we will certainly not be supporting the Qatari regime, the violation of human rights and discrimination against women. We will be supporting the national team,” said Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who plans to travel to Doha on Friday.

But on Monday, Santos Silva spoke more diplomatically ahead of the Portugal-Uruguay match.

When asked about human rights, he said: “Every country has a lot to do to improve on that and other subjects. That applies to all countries, including Portugal.”

He also highlighted Portugal’s “strategic” and “positive” relationship with Qatar.

“When we had to bring dozens of dozens of people from Afghanistan … we could do it because of the support of Qatar. We don’t forget about that. Same for when in the United Nations General Assembly, Qatar adopted a position condemning the war in Ukraine.”