President SBY Demands Malaysia’s Seriousness in Settling Border Disputes

President SBY Demands Malaysia’s Seriousness in Settling Border Disputes

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) demanded Malaysian government to be really serious in settling border disputes. Furthermore, President SBY demanded thorough resolution of border disputes with Malaysia, because so far, efforts to settle border disputes with Malaysia have not yet yielded any concrete results, as contrasted with Indonesia’s other neighboring countries.

“The status quo shouldn’t be the option and thus, border disputes must be settled thoroughly. I must say over and over again that we have managed to settle our border disputes with Singapore, as well as with East Timor, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Therefore, I really expect that our negotiations with Malaysia should make progresses,” President SBY said when he received the Technical Team for the Maritime Border Settlement in Jakarta on Monday (13/10).

If our borders are clearly defined, according to President SBY, Indonesia will have valid grounds for avoiding conflicts.

According to President SBY, unsettled disputes will only undermine the politics and the security of the countries disputing their shared borders and will often lead to open conflicts and political tension.

On that occasion, President SBY expressed his appreciation to all the negotiators for their hard work.” You really become the part of the solution and the troubleshooters,” he said.

President SBY also expected them to support and help the president elect Joko Widodo. He mentioned that in Indonesia’s waters, there are 182 base points used as the legal bases for establishing Indonesia’s maritime borders with its neighboring countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and East Timor.

On this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa presented a souvenir to President SBY. “Thank you. I will keep this souvenir in my library,” President SBY said upon receiving the souvenir.

Minister Marty Natalegawa said that in the 2004-2014 period, Indonesia succeeded in establishing its maritime borders and its maritime baselines with Singapore, as well as its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with the Philippines. In the near future, Marty Natalegawa said, Indonesia will also begin the signing of the agreements on the borders of ZEE between Indonesia and the Philippines and the establishment of the maritime baselines in the eastern segment of Singapore Strait.

A number of Indonesian top officials were present at that occasion. They were, among others, Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa, Minister of Defense Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sharif Cicip Sutarjo, the Navy Chief of Staff, the Army Vice Chief of Staff, Hassan Wirajuda. (WID/ES)