Qatar’s seduction operation in Switzerland shunned by parliamentarians
The Qatar embassy in Bern organized a reception across the World Cup on Tuesday night. A seduction operation to revive the picture of the controversial occasion which can start on November 21. Whereas all federal elected officers had been invited, solely a handful responded.
The Qatari authorities pulled out all of the stops through the reception on Tuesday night on the ambassador’s residence in Bern.
The roughly 150 visitors had been welcomed by a dozen hostesses. On the forecourt of the constructing, the organizers had deliberate a play space, with a photograph sales space, the place individuals might pose in entrance of a large reproduction of the official World Cup ball.
Right here, no air-conditioned stadiums, however heaters put in in tents arrange for the event, within the gardens of the residence.
Only some elected UDC current
Whereas the 246 parliamentarians acquired an invite, solely 5 elected UDC had been current, famous the RTS on the spot.
Amongst them, the president of the occasion Marco Chiesa selected to take part within the occasion solely out of politeness, he says, and to not speak politics: “If there’s something to do or to debate, it’s not throughout this night. Tonight they’re celebrating the group of the World Cup. The target is maybe additionally to say that they’ve performed issues in addition to doable.”
And to notice Switzerland’s hyperlinks with Qatar, significantly when it comes to vitality: “It’s a main gasoline producer.” When requested if he has acquired presents within the type of match tickets, for instance, the president of the UDC replies: “No, by no means. It is a humorous query.”
Keep away from annoying subjects
Unsurprisingly, no controversial points – suspicions of corruption, hundreds of deaths on development websites, environmental points – had been addressed. Quite the opposite, the organizers proudly displayed the fashions of the eight stadiums the place the matches will happen.
A number of speeches adopted for about thirty minutes. Qatar’s ambassador to Switzerland Mohammed Jaham Al-Kuwari stated he hoped the World Cup would silence some critics.
FIFA’s quantity two, Secretary Normal Fatma Samoura, insisted on the great progress of the group. “For the primary time within the historical past of the World Cup, a rustic was prepared six months earlier than the beginning of the occasion,” she stated.
“Soccer is a foundation for dialogue”
SVP nationwide councilor Lars Guggisberg additionally spoke, as chairman and captain of the Parliament soccer workforce. In his speech in English, he spoke above all of gathering and unity.
Is not there a sure hypocrisy in taking part in such a reception? Quite the opposite, replies Lars Guggisberg: “It is crucial to speak collectively. Soccer is a foundation for dialogue and diplomacy.”
Matthew Henderson
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