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)