Border talks resume

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Officials from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea resumed their discussions on Monday to delineate the border between the two countries.

Antara reported that Irian Jaya Governor Basyir Bachtiar opened the latest round of Border Liaison Meetings with an appeal to all members to first try to resolve the decisions still pending from the last meeting in Rabaul, held on the other side of the border last July.

The meeting is also expected to discuss the issues of border crossings, exchange of currencies, trade and the prospect of joint ventures in fisheries.

Also on the agenda is the plan to build a road linking the Kuow village in Irian Jaya with the village of Wutung near Vanimo in Papua New Guinea. There is also a plan to build a similar road linking the southern part of the two countries.

The meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday will be held on board the KM Dobonsolo as it sails southward towards Sorong. (emb)