World Cup 2022: Russia's Putin wishes Qatar every success for tournament
Russian President Vladimir Putin has wished Qatar every success in hosting the upcoming football World Cup and said that the 2018 hosts were sharing their experience in organising the tournament.
Russia's hosting of the 2018 tournament was largely seen as a success, with the New York Times asking if, in fact, it was the "greatest of all World Cups".
But both Russia and Qatar have been accused by human rights groups of using the tournament to distract from abuses at home and abroad.
While the Russian team was knocked out by eventual finalists Croatia in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup, it has been barred from the 2022 edition following the invasion of Ukraine. This year's tournament runs from 20 November to 18 December in Qatar.
Putin met Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
It was the first meeting between the two leaders since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We are doing everything we can in terms of sharing our experience regarding preparations for the World Cup," Putin said. "I would like to wish you success in holding this World Cup, this event. I am sure that's how it will be."
Qatar is the first Middle East nation to host the World Cup.
"The success that Russia had during the 2018 World Cup is a big help in preparing for the World Cup that we will be hosting," Sheikh Tamim said. "We thank you for your cooperation in preparing for the upcoming tournament."
The two leaders discussed a range of other bilateral and international issues, including the crisis in Ukraine and its effect on energy markets and food security.
According to the Qatari emir's office, Putin and Sheikh Tamim also discussed the situation in Libya, Syria and the Iranian nuclear talks.
“Qatar’s emir emphasised support for all international and regional efforts to find an immediate peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis and affirmed the necessity of respecting the sovereignty of states,” a statement from the office read.
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