by Rachid Khechana in Doha, swissinfo.ch

Switzerland is preparing to open an embassy in Qatar, a country it sees as an increasingly important player in the region.

Ambassador Martin Aeschbacher tells swissinfo.ch that the small Gulf kingdom “is on the rise” economically.

Aeschbacher says relations with Gulf states are growing in importance. Qatar in particular plays a mediator role in the region, something he will be following “close-hand”.

The new embassy opening comes against the backdrop of closures of various Swiss embassies worldwide as part of restructuring of the Swiss diplomatic network. The foreign ministry announced earlier that it intended to use some of the freed-up resources for the new embassy in Doha.

Aeschbacher is an expert in Arab affairs who has served in posts in Baghdad, Tripoli and Damascus. He has presented his credentials to the Qatari foreign ministry and is due to be received by the emir of the country.

swissinfo.ch: Why open a Swiss embassy in Qatar now?

Martin Aeschbacher: Switzerland is a country that tries to be universal in its diplomatic relations with a large number of countries. We have had relations with Qatar since its independence [from being a British protectorate] but these were directed from [the Swiss embassy in] Kuwait. Today Qatar is playing a more dynamic role in this region. That coincided with Qatar’s wish for us to open an embassy in Doha and for Qatar to do so in Bern.

For the moment I’m an ambassador without an embassy but eventually there will be a complete embassy.