KL wants further talks on disputed isles

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)