KL, Jakarta agree on ICJ ruling

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia have formally agreed to accept any future ruling made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the disputed Sipadan and Ligitan islands.

The agreement was announced here yesterday at the exchange of the ratification instrument of the Special Agreement for Submission to the International Court of Justice of the Dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia Concerning Sovereignty over Sipadan and Ligitan Islands.

Antara reported that the Indonesian Government was represented by Nugroho Wisnumurti, the foreign ministry's director general for political affairs, while Malaysia was represented by its ambassador Zainal Abidin bin Alias.

According to Nugroho, the two countries will soon convey the ratified special agreement to the ICJ in the Hague in a joint letter to be worked out by the two sides.

"Based on the agreement, the two countries must not claim the islands, and must stop all activities which can indicate that the islands are under their authorities," he said.

"The agreement also reflects the close relationship between the two countries which give priority to the regional stability," he said.

The agreement was signed in May 1997 by Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and his Malaysian counterpart Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The two countries have been in dispute over the islands since 1969, but they agreed two years ago to settle the problem through the ICJ. (mds)