Indonesia, Singapore hold talks on sea boundaries

Straits Times 16 Mar 13;

INDONESIA and Singapore held the sixth round of technical discussions on maritime boundaries in the eastern part of the Strait of Singapore, said a joint statement from the foreign affairs ministries of both countries.

The discussions took place in Lombok yesterday and on Thursday.

The Indonesian delegation was led by Mr Octavino Alimudin, acting director for treaties on political, security and territorial affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Singapore delegation was led by Mr Pang Khang Chau, director-general of the international affairs division of the Attorney-General's Chambers.

The delegations continued discussions on the Terms of Reference and other issues relating to the territorial sea boundary in the eastern part of the Strait of Singapore, said the statement.

Both delegation heads acknowledged that the progress at the discussions would contribute to strengthening bilateral relations.

The talks were a follow-up to the fifth round of discussions in Singapore on Nov 8 and Nov 9.

The two countries had in 2009 signed a treaty on the western segment of the maritime boundary, between Indonesia's Pulau Nipa and Singapore's Sultan Shoal.

For the eastern segments of the maritime border, two sections remain unresolved: one between Changi and Batam, and the other between Pedra Branca and Bintan.