Bosnia-Herzegovina has new envoy

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.