Indonesia, Qatar to open embassies

Indonesia, Qatar to open embassies

JAKARTA (JP): Qatar and Indonesia yesterday agreed to enhance bilateral relations by opening embassies in their respective capitals and forging a set of agreements to boost economic ties.

"The countries are on the way to establishing resident embassies in their capitals," said Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas after meeting with Qatar Foreign Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani here yesterday.

Alatas declined to state exactly when the embassies would be set up, saying only that it would be soon.

The state of Qatar is currently accredited to the Indonesian embassy in Kuwait, while Qatar's interests here are represented by their embassy in Islamabad.

Al-Thani is scheduled to leave today after a two-day goodwill visit here, which is part of a 12-day regional tour which includes Malaysia and Bangladesh.

Earlier yesterday Al-Thani paid a courtesy call on Vice President Try Sutrisno and conveyed an invitation for him to visit Qatar.

Both ministers revealed yesterday that they are pressing hard to formulate agreements that are expected to strengthen economic cooperation.

The agreements includes areas of economic and technical cooperation, protection and promotion of investment, along with the avoidance of double taxation.

To facilitate relations, a joint commission was formed with the task of holding periodical meetings to review and further optimize progress in Qatar-Indonesia relations. (mds)