11.   Oman and Qatar announced this week, during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, that they would open trade missions in Tel Aviv.

12.   Portugal has asked for a permanent U.N. mission to be opened in East Timor, but the Indonesian government has rejected the idea.

13.   Sri Lanka will open diplomatic missions in South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and reopen one in the Philippines, the foreign minister said.

14.   The Gulf states do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, though some have opened trade missions in Israel.

15.   India on Friday said it was reopening a consulate office in Mandalay while giving Myanmar the go-ahead to open its mission in the eastern Indian metropolis of Calcutta.

16.   It also announced in July plans to open a mission in autonomous Palestinian territories once occupied by Israel.

17.   Yoo said the South Korean embassy in Pakistan will handle diplomatic affairs with Afghanistan before a mission is opened in Kabul.

18.   Morocco is the first Arab country to open a mission in Palestinian territories once occupied by Israel and the second Arab state to establish diplomatic links to Israel.

19.   Morocco is the first Arab country to open a mission in the new self-rule Palestinian areas territories and the second Arab state to establish diplomatic links to Israel.

20.   NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson will personally open the mission, Interfax quoted the Russian Defence Ministry as saying.