(Doha, October 22, 2025) – Cuban Ambassador to Qatar Enrique Enriquez granted an exclusive interview to Al Sharq Daily, in honor of the upcoming 36th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Qatar.
In the full-page interview with the prestigious newspaper, journalist Awatif Bin Ali highlights the Cuban diplomat's participation in crucial moments in the history of bilateral relations, such as the historic visit to Doha by the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz; the visits to Cuba by His Highness the Emir Father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and by the current Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani; and, more recently, the visit of President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, all of which boosted the development of ties of friendship and cooperation between Cuba and Qatar.
He stated that as a result of fruitful exchanges and the existing commitment between both governments, bilateral cooperation in health matters has achieved significant development, with the opening of the Cuban Hospital in Dukhan in 2012 and the presence of Cuban professionals since 2022 at the Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital and other hospitals in Doha. These professionals are performing excellent work, widely recognized by the Qatari population and foreign residents.
The ambassador referred to joint business opportunities in the sectors of tourism, transportation, agriculture, sports, education, culture, and scientific research, the promotion and realization of which are the focus of both parties' efforts. He also announced his country's participation in the upcoming Qatar International Tourism and Travel Fair, which will take place in Doha next November.
In the political arena, he emphasized that Cuba and Qatar share common interests in issues on the international agenda, with special emphasis on those that contribute to respect for the right of peoples to determine their destiny, and to international peace and security. In international forums, he pointed out, Cuba has historically supported Arab and Islamic causes, and Qatar votes every year in favor of the Cuban resolution presented at the UN General Assembly against the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the US government against Cuba.
Denouncing that the US government remains steadfast in implementing this cruel and illegal policy despite the almost universal call for the unconditional lifting of the blockade, the Cuban diplomat asserted that it represents the main obstacle to Cuba's development and that the majority of the Cuban population has been born and lived under the constant siege of this criminal policy, which directly affects their well-being, quality of life, and their rights.
When asked how he assessed Qatar's mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and resolve the conflicts in the region, the ambassador noted that, first, Cuba condemned in the strongest terms the unacceptable attack by the Israeli regime on Doha on September 9, which constituted a flagrant violation of international law and Qatar's sovereignty, as well as a serious threat to regional security and stability. He also expressed his full solidarity with the Emir of the State of Qatar and the Qatari people, with whom we share strong ties of friendship and cooperation, and who were victims of Israeli aggression.
We welcome Qatar's mediation efforts to end the Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip and recognize its effective contribution to strengthening peace and stability in the region, he noted. Finally, he commented that there have been many examples of Cuba's strong and unequivocal rejection of the genocide against the Palestinian people, perpetrated by the Israeli regime with the complicity of the US government, emphasizing that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through a two-state solution, which guarantees the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and their independent and sovereign state, within pre-1967 borders, with its capital in East Jerusalem, and full recognition by the UN.
Al Sharq was founded in 1987 and is considered one of the 50 most inclusive online Arab newspapers in the world. Dar Al Sharq Media Group provides high-quality media services and products through the publication of newspapers and magazines for readers in Arab nations and beyond.
(Embassy of Cuba in Qatar)