ID :
64047
Wed, 06/03/2009 - 17:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/64047
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PRESIDENT CALLS FOR MORE INTENSIVE AMBALAT TALKS WITH MALAYSIA
Jakarta, June 3 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to intensify its negotiations with Malaysia over the Ambalat issue.
The president made the request at a meeting with National Defense Forces (TNI) leaders and related officials at the presidential office on Wednesday, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS told the press after the meeting.
Widodo said the president chaired the meeting to discuss various issues related to domestic security, including the intrusion of several Malaysian warships into Indonesian waters in the Ambalat block.
"The president asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to speed up its negotiations with Malaysia over the Ambalat issue," Widodo said, adding that negotiations between Indonesian and Malaysian teams about the two countries' maritime borders had been going on since since 2005.
He said in the negotiations, Indonesia had brought up questions relating to its maritime borderd with Malaysia in the Malacca Strait, Johor, South China Sea, and the Ambalat area.
According to the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, the two countnries' teams had already met at least 23 times and in July this year they were to hold their 24th meeting.
Widodo said in its efforts to arrive at a solution of the Ambalat issue, Indonesia was pursuing two courses of action: holding negotiations on its maritime borders with Malaysia, and deploying naval units in the area for surveillance purposes.
"We have seen a dynamic developent in the field. The response given by the TNI so far have been professional and in accordance with existing regulations, and border intrusions so far have been dealt with through an appropriate mechanism," Widodo said.
The minister added that President Yudhoyono had stated that the Ambalat issue should be solved in accordance with existing basic policies.
"Malaysia should respect the ongoing negotiation process and not engage in provocation. We do not want any acts of violence that can disadvantage all parties, but firmness in protecting national sovereignty remains our primary orientation," he said.
Meanwhile, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said there had been interactions between the Indonesian Navy and Malaysian warships since 2007 until 2009.
Present at the two-hour meeting which started at 1 pm were Widodo AS, Army Chief of Staff Gen Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Subandrio, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri, and State Intelligent Agency (BIN) Chief Syamsir Siregar. ***
The president made the request at a meeting with National Defense Forces (TNI) leaders and related officials at the presidential office on Wednesday, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS told the press after the meeting.
Widodo said the president chaired the meeting to discuss various issues related to domestic security, including the intrusion of several Malaysian warships into Indonesian waters in the Ambalat block.
"The president asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to speed up its negotiations with Malaysia over the Ambalat issue," Widodo said, adding that negotiations between Indonesian and Malaysian teams about the two countries' maritime borders had been going on since since 2005.
He said in the negotiations, Indonesia had brought up questions relating to its maritime borderd with Malaysia in the Malacca Strait, Johor, South China Sea, and the Ambalat area.
According to the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, the two countnries' teams had already met at least 23 times and in July this year they were to hold their 24th meeting.
Widodo said in its efforts to arrive at a solution of the Ambalat issue, Indonesia was pursuing two courses of action: holding negotiations on its maritime borders with Malaysia, and deploying naval units in the area for surveillance purposes.
"We have seen a dynamic developent in the field. The response given by the TNI so far have been professional and in accordance with existing regulations, and border intrusions so far have been dealt with through an appropriate mechanism," Widodo said.
The minister added that President Yudhoyono had stated that the Ambalat issue should be solved in accordance with existing basic policies.
"Malaysia should respect the ongoing negotiation process and not engage in provocation. We do not want any acts of violence that can disadvantage all parties, but firmness in protecting national sovereignty remains our primary orientation," he said.
Meanwhile, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said there had been interactions between the Indonesian Navy and Malaysian warships since 2007 until 2009.
Present at the two-hour meeting which started at 1 pm were Widodo AS, Army Chief of Staff Gen Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Subandrio, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri, and State Intelligent Agency (BIN) Chief Syamsir Siregar. ***
