KL wants further talks on disputed isles
JAKARTA (JP): Malaysia yesterday agreed to continue its negotiations with Indonesia to try to resolve the ownership of two small islands off East Kalimantan, according to a senior Indonesian official.
The disputed Sipadan and Ligitan islands were discussed briefly during a meeting between Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and President Soeharto, Minister/Secretary of State Moerdiono told reporters after the talks.
"My impression is that the two leaders agreed that the matter could be resolved through negotiations," Moerdiono said. "It could still be discussed at a ministerial level and, failing that, by the envoys of the President or Mr. Mahathir."
The third round of negotiations between senior officials of the two countries ended in a deadlock in Jakarta earlier this month. Malaysian delegates proposed to put the matter before an international arbitration, citing specifically the International Court of Justice, but Indonesia insisted that the matter could still be resolved bilaterally.
Indonesia also suggested that if arbitration was necessary, then the two countries should turn to existing mechanisms in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Moerdiono said the islands conflict had been unnecessarily fanned by press reports. "I'd just like to suggest that every one try to create the situation that the two leaders are trying forge."
Mahathir, accompanied by his wife Siti Hasmah, arrived yesterday for a two-day working visit to Indonesia in keeping with a tradition among ASEAN leaders to maintain regular, albeit, informal consultations.
The prime minister yesterday also addressed the international conference on human resource development organized by the Center for Information and Development Studies which is chaired by B.J. Habibie, the state minister of research and technology.
He also witnessed the signing of a series of economic joint venture agreements between the two countries.
Today, he is scheduled to visit a ceramic cottage industry in Plered, Purwakarta (West Java), and give a press conference before flying home to Kuala Lumpur.
Moerdiono said Mahathir and Soeharto during their meeting at the Merdeka Palace also discussed preparations for the upcoming meeting of the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to be held in Bogor, West Java, on Nov. 15.
"They sought to forge a common concept and exchanged ideas on the steps necessary to ensure a successful meeting," he said.
Mahathir stayed away from the first APEC leadership meeting in Seattle, the United States, last November, alleging that Washington was trying to turn the Asia Pacific region into one of its spheres of influence.
The prime minister however is expected to attend the second APEC leadership meeting hosted by President Soeharto.
Moerdiono said the two leaders also discussed ways of enhancing economic cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia, in particular with regard to the development of a growth triangle involving the northern part of Sumatra with Malaysia and Thailand.
Malaysia is keen to invest in plantations in North Sumatra, he added. (emb)