RI, Singapore agree to speed up talks on extradition treaty

RI, Singapore agree to speed up talks on extradition treaty

Agencies, Singapore

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singaporean Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong agreed on Tuesday to speed up talks on an
extradition treaty which Jakarta considers crucial in its fight
against corruption.

Both leaders emerged from a meeting upbeat about the future of
bilateral ties, which underwent rough patches in the past but
gained a boost recently when Singapore played a vital role in
helping its bigger neighbor recover from the tsunami disaster.

"The president and I agreed to instruct our respective teams
to work together towards a good and workable agreement that
serves the needs and protects the interests of both sides," Lee
was quoted by AFP as saying after the meeting.

"We also agreed to instruct our teams to conclude the
negotiations expeditiously."

Negotiators are scheduled to meet again next month to follow
up on their meeting in January.

Lee said Susilo briefed him on his efforts to fight corruption
in Indonesia during their meeting at the Istana presidential
complex.

The Indonesian leader arrived from Malaysia, his first stop on
a tour of Southeast Asian partners, for a two-day state visit to
Singapore.

Indonesia has long sought an extradition treaty with Singapore
to allow it to run after alleged corrupt officials and business
people who stash their money in the city-state, a regional
financial safe haven.

Singapore officials have said there are enough safeguards to
prevent the country from becoming a magnet for laundered funds.

"I assured him of Singapore's support and cooperation in this
matter in accordance with Singapore laws," said Lee, who stressed
however that the negotiations would be complex.

"Tackling corruption is a long-term effort. It's not a problem
that can be solved simply by one treaty.

"But I told President Yudhoyono that I understood the
importance to Indonesia of having an extradition treaty with
Singapore. I assured him that we are committed to concluding an
extradition treaty with Indonesia."

Lee said negotiators from both sides needed to determine the
scope of offenses to be covered by the proposed treaty and how it
would be implemented.

"So it's best for us not to try to predict how long the
negotiations will take. What's important is that we are serious
about proceeding," Lee said.

Susilo welcomed Singapore's commitment. "I am pleased to learn
that actually both of us are fully committed to continuing the
process of drafting or formulating the treaty," he said.

"We agreed to accelerate the process until we reach a proper
understanding and proper formulation of that treaty."

They were also upbeat about the future of bilateral ties,
which have improved considerably in recent years.

Former Indonesian president B.J. Habibie dismissed Singapore
as a "little red dot" in the world map during one rough period.

"The atmosphere (of bilateral ties) is good and we could
discuss constructively," said Susilo.

Relations between the two countries were sometimes strained
when former Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri was in
power, with Singapore saying Jakarta was slow to crack down on
Islamic militants.

Susilo, however, has a reputation for honesty and earned
praise for his efforts as former security minister to pursue
terrorists.

For his part, Lee said: "Our relations are in good shape... We
look forward to building on this to take our cooperation another
step forward."

Lee and Susilo also agreed to sign an investment guarantee
agreement that would protect Singapore investors who put their
funds in Indonesia.

"This is a signal to investors that Indonesia welcomes
Singapore investors," Lee was quoted by AP as saying.

Singapore is now emerging as a key investor in Indonesia, and
was among the first to commit troops and equipment for
humanitarian relief in the aftermath of the Dec. 26 tsunami
disaster in Aceh province.

Susilo said his government will devise a "master plan" by next
month to rebuild Aceh. The Dec. 26 Asian tsunami swept away
entire towns and villages, and killed more than 100,000 people in
Aceh alone.

Susilo is to address an investors' conference and deliver a
public lecture on Wednesday before concluding his visit.