Bosnia-Herzegovina has new envoy

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri received the credentials of Zdravko Rajic, Bosnia-Herzegovina's new ambassador to Indonesia, at the State Palace on Monday.

Rajic replaces Edib Bukvic, who served as Bosnia's first ambassador to Indonesia, when the two countries first established diplomatic relations in 1998.

Ties between the two predominantly-Muslim countries had been initiated years in advance, however.

During the era of former president Soeharto who, at that time chaired the Non-Aligned Movement, Indonesia participated actively as a facilitator to help resolve the war between the two former Yugoslav republics of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia.

Indonesia also sent troops to the Bosnia-Herzegovina under the United Nations' peacekeeping mission. The Indonesian peacekeepers were the 14th contingent the country had sent to combat zones around the globe so far. The troops were formerly named after the country's seal, Garuda.

In 1997, Soeharto ordered the establishment of a mosque in western Sarajevo as a token of friendship between Indonesia and its ally, Bosnia.

The mosque was named after Soeharto, and built by a team of donors led by Probosutedjo, a businessman and half brother of Soeharto.

Also on Monday, Megawati received the credentials of Armenia's ambassador to Indonesia, Armen Baibourtian.