RI, Singapore ink sea border agreement

The Jakarta Post,  Jakarta   |   Tue, 03/10/2009 4:28 PM 

 Inked in black: RI and Singaporean Foreign Ministers Hassan Wirajuda (right) and George Yeo exchange agreement documents signed at Pancasila Building, Deplu Complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday. The Indonesian and Singaporean governments agreed on Nipah and Tuas islands of the Singapore Straits as the most western maritime border of the two countries after four years of tough negotiations (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

After four years of negotiations, the governments of Indonesia and Singapore agreed on a sea border on Tuesday, formed by Nipah and Tuas islands in the Singapore strait, Antara state newswire reports. 

After signing the deal with Singapore's foreign minister George Yeo, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said the agreement was in its second stage after first being inked in May, 1973. 

Under the agreement, the two islands would form part of Singapore's western sea border, although it is unclear from the report whether the islands would be part of Singapore or Indonesian territory. 

"We hope this deal will help develop cooperative ties between the two countries, and we are optimistic about reaching similar agreements for the eastern sea border, later," Wirajuda said. 

The eastern sea border is divided into two segments. The first segment includes an area between Changi and Batam, while the second encompasses a region between Bintan and South Ledge/Middle Rock/Pedra Branca. 

Minister George Yeo said both governments would discuss the two segments immediately but had not set any deadlines to finalize the negotiations. (ewd)