Albania, Qatar place new ambassadors

Albania, Qatar place new ambassadors

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto received the credentials of the new ambassador of Qatar, Saeed Khalifa Mubarak Al-Muhannadi, and the new ambassador of Albania, Ferid Riza Hoti, at the state palace on Saturday.

Addressing Mubarak Al-Muhannadi, the President said Indonesia and Qatar should step up their trade and economic relations, in order to speed up development in the two countries.

Indonesia and Qatar, the President said, are both members of the Organization of Islamic Countries and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

He said the globalization of trade and economic activities made countries interdependent.

Soeharto told the Albanian ambassador that now that the Cold War was over, the world's countries should join hands to fight common problems like disease, backwardness and poverty.

On hand at the ceremony were Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono. (pan)