RI, East Timor to demarcate border

RI, East Timor to demarcate border

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The Indonesian and Timor Leste
governments plan to erect 50 border marker posts this year along
the frontier between the two countries. The border demarcation
work is being carried out as follow-up to the Memorandum of
Understanding signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
Wirajuda and Timor Leste foreign minister Jose Ramos Horta on
Aug. 30 in Motaain, East Nusa Tenggara province.

"There will eventually be a total of 900 markers erected to
delineate the frontier between Indonesia and Timor Leste. This
year, a total of 50 markers will be erected, with the rest to be
set up over the next few years," said Col. Noch Bola, commanding
officer of the Wirasakti Military Command in East Nusa Tenggara
province.

Earlier, Indonesia and the Timor Leste governments had agreed
to map out the borders between the two countries before they
moved ahead with erecting marker posts. The mapping effort was
considered important by both sides for preventing disputes
between the two countries.

Timor Leste seceded from Indonesia in 1999 after a popular
ballot sponsored by the United Nations. -- Antara