PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO RECEIVES EMIR OF QATAR

Jakarta, May 19 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani at the Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday morning.

Accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, the president received the Emir of Qatar and his wife Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned at 10 a.m local time.

During the meeting, President Yudhoyono and his guest discussed bilateral matters related to cooperation in the economy and in other sectors between the two countries.

On the occasion, a memorandum of understanding on economic and technical cooperation was signed by the Indonesian foreign minister and the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the State of Qatar in the presence of the two leaders.

The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad was accompanied by his Finance and Economic Minister Yousef Hussein Kamal and a number of government officials, while President Yudhoyono was accompanied by Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa, Foreign Affairs Minister Nur Hassan Wirayuda, Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni, and the State Ministry for State Enterprises (BUMN) secretary, Rozi Munir.