Egypt and Qatar exchange new ambassadors

Newly-appointed Egyptian ambassador Mohammed Abdul Fattah arrived in Qatar yesterday, succeeding Mohammed Manniss who was transferred to Singapore.

The arrival of the Egyptian ambassador coincided with the appointment of a new ambassador for Qatar in Cairo, Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, who was had served as Qatar's ambassador to Yemen.

Analysts indicated that the appointment of the two ambassadors indicates a new stage in Egyptian - Qatari relations. Relations between the two states were tense late last year and earlier this year, but the visit to Egypt by Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani, and his meeting with Egypt's President Mubarak, opened a new page in the relations between the two states.

A date is expected to be set for meetings of the Egyptian - Qatari committee chaired by the two countries' foreign ministers.

Communications are also expected between the Damascus Declaration countries -- Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates -- to hold a ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar.