UK-based Portland PR represents Qatar, which fellow Arab states have charged with supporting terrorism.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, United Arab Emirates and Yemen today cut diplomatic ties with Qatar.
They said Qatar, home of Arab satellite TV channel al Jazeera, lends backing to the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood.
The Saudi official news agency said cutting ties with Qatar is to “protect national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism.”
Qatar called the allegations “complete fabrications” and nothing more than a campaign to weaken it. It also denied meddling into the affairs of its neighbors.
David MacKay, senior partner in Portland’s Washington office, told O’Dwyer’s that Qatar recently renewed its contract to support its D.C. embassy’s government relations and lobbying activities.
Portland also advises Qatar on public diplomacy and strategic communications.
Tim Allan, deputy press secretary to former UK prime minister Tony Blair, founded Portland in 2001.
Edelman is providing communications support to Panama’s Ministry of Commerce and Industries under an agreement capped at $97,100 per month.
Ballard Partners has recruited State Department veteran Matt Bryza as a senior policy advisor.
Teneo has extended its contract with the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation for an additional four months to July 31, adding another $1.8M in fees to the New York firm’s coffers.
The Syrian Kurdish militia recruits Jim Dornan Strategies to press Congress for continued support in their battle against ISIS and Syrian president Bashar Assad.
The Government of Hungary has hired Strategic Improvisation Inc. to generate positive media coverage and combat negative press coverage of the Central European country. (6 reader comments)
Have a comment? Send it to 
No comments have been submitted for this story yet.