Indonesia-Singapore border treaty awaits for Malaysia

Antara 4 Nov 08;

Batam (ANTARA News) - Western Indonesia-Singapore`s border determining treaty is still waiting for Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks ownership between Singapore and Malaysia.

"Waiting for Pedra Branca ownership, the we can determine the border," said The Foreign Affair`s legal and international treaty division executor, Damos Dumoli Agusman, here Tuesday.

He said that Indonesia and Singapore are still agreed on the central border area, between Batam island and Singapore. Meanwhile in Batam island eastern and western waters has not yet to be greed.

Pedra Branca is located eastern of Singapore, resulting the eastern borders is not yet determined.

Meanwhile, Johor strait quarrel between Singapore and Malaysia, becomes the lion country`s main reason to delay the treaty with Indonesia.

"They say, the Johor strait matter is done, but when we want to make an agreement, Singapore delayed so it can be pack as one with the eastern border," he said.

"There are a reclamation theory, but I don`t want to talk about it," Damos said.

He said on Pedra Branca that the International Criminal Justice has decided that Pedra Brance belongs to Singapore, and Middle rocks belongs to Malaysia, however the two neighboring countries are still dealing the matter.

Since 2005 until now, Indonesian and Singapore government has been five times dealing about the countries border.

The only agreed Indonesian and Singaporean sea line determination treaty is the Singapore strait on May 25, 1973 and ratified by presidential decree no.7/2003.

The joint determined border line in Singapore strait is less than 15 Km of base line distance between both countries.
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