Indonesia, Malaysia stand by claims<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Wahyoe Boediwardhana,
\nThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Denpasar<\/p>\n
The first round of technical talks aimed to resolve a dispute
\nover an offshore area between Indonesia and Malaysia concluded on
\nWednesday, with both sides vowing not to back down from their
\nclaims over the oil field.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said after the
\ntalks that both countries had agreed to resume their dialog in
\nMalaysia in early May, with more rounds of negotiations to
\nfollow.<\/p>\n
"We stick to our claim. We are not backing down because
\nAmbalat is still our area. We're now constructing a lighthouse
\nthere and the project will continue," he said.<\/p>\n
The talks focused on the maritime mapping of the so-called
\nAmbalat blocks, an oil- and gas-rich area off the eastern coast
\nof Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Hassan said Indonesia reaffirmed its stance during the
\ntechnical talks in Denpasar, Bali, which the minister said took
\nplace "in a good and friendly atmosphere".<\/p>\n
The bipartisan technical commission was been set up to examine
\nthe competing claims and to try find a solution.<\/p>\n
"Both sides have been very open and straightforward about
\ntheir respective positions. We asked (Malaysia) about the basis
\nfor their argument in determining the borders," he said.<\/p>\n
Hassan said Indonesia would explain its legal claim to the
\nAmbalat blocks based on the country's status as an archipelago
\nnation during the next meetings.<\/p>\n
As of Wednesday, Indonesian and Malaysian warships continued
\ntheir patrols around the disputed blocks. Indonesian Military
\nchief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said the military would maintain
\nits presence there while the negotiations were underway.<\/p>\n
Both the Indonesian and Malaysian delegates to the technical
\ntalks refused to give statements regarding the results of their
\nclosed-door meeting.<\/p>\n
On the second day, the meeting was moved to the third floor of
\nthe Grand Mirage Hotel after it was held in the ballroom
\novernight. Tight security meant all access to the meeting room
\nwas blocked.<\/p>\n
Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said
\nthe two sides had expressed concern about local militias deployed
\nto the area who were reportedly preparing for an armed
\nconfrontation should talks between the two nations fail.<\/p>\n
He said Malaysia and Indonesia would announce the results of
\nthe Bali technical meeting soon.<\/p>\n
The neighbors, Marty said, were considering a series of
\nmeetings on the subject to pursue a resolution.<\/p>\n
"It's difficult to imagine the negotiation process finishing
\nafter only one meeting," he said.<\/p>\n
Outside the hotel, dozens of people who claimed to represent
\nthe "national defense command" rallied to protest at what they
\ncalled an invasion by Malaysia into the disputed maritime area.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the demonstrators said they opposed any
\ncompromise or oil-sharing agreement. "The block belongs entirely
\nto Indonesia," they said.<\/p>\n
The protesters also mobbed the car carrying Marty out of the
\nhotel before police dispersed them.<\/p>\n
"We wanted to give him our statement," one of them said.<\/p>\n
Envoy -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-malaysia-stand-by-claims-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }