Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday described the deportation crisis with Spain as "serious," but said he was confident it would soon be solved.
After meeting with visiting European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Lula told reporters that as a "personal friend" of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, he was sure that the problem would be solved quickly.
"We have to negotiate directly with Spain, where the problem is more serious," the president said.
Diplomatic tensions have built up due to the deportation of Brazilians from Barajas airport in Madrid earlier this month.
Several groups of Brazilian citizens, including university students on their way to scientific seminars in Europe, were barred entry by Spanish border control.
In response, Brazil has turned back approximately 30 Spaniards since then for not meeting entry requirements.
Lula said the two countries' foreign ministries were dealing with the matter.
Highlighting the fact that Spain and Brazil were "friends," he said he was absolutely certain that "Spaniards have for Brazil the same admiration as Brazilians have for Spain."
Source:Xinhua
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