Border Negotiations Have Technical Complexity And Take Time, RI-Malaysia Uphold ASEAN Principles

JAKARTA - Indonesia and Malaysia always obey and uphold ASEAN principles, when border negotiations have technical complexity and need time.

This was said by the Director General of Asia, Pacific and African Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Abdul Kadir Jailani, regarding the resolution of the sea border problem in Blok Ambalat, Sulawesi Sea, after a briefing in Jakarta, Friday.

Abdul Kadir explained that the Indonesian government is committed to resolving all sea borders in peaceful ways, through the negotiation process, as stated by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.

The Ambalat problem has surfaced recently, as the Malaysian government calls maritime areas covering the ND6 and ND7 Blocks, located in the 1979 Malaysia New Map, as the Sulawesi Sea, and not as a "refund", just like the term used by Indonesia.

"This is a problem that has not been resolved, the limit (sea boundaries) do not yet exist. So we must always negotiate, we have an obligation to negotiate, that's what's important," he explained, Friday, August 8.

Furthermore, Ambassador Kadir explained, Indonesia and Malaysia as neighboring countries, fellow ASEAN countries always comply with and uphold ASEAN principles, always resolving all differences through peaceful ways.

He explained that solving this problem took time and the process was not easy.

"The negotiation process has been in progress for 43 rounds since 2005. The border negotiations process has a fairly complex technical complexity, therefore it takes time," he explained.

"In the negotiation process, Indonesia will continue to fight by prioritizing national interests and based on the principles contained in UNCLOS (BP Sea Law Convention)," said Ambassador Kadir.

According to him, Indonesia's close relationship with Malaysia, which has gone through a long process, has become an opportunity, so it is optimistic that there will be a commitment and intention to resolve this problem properly.

Regarding the plan for joint management of the Ambalat Block resources between Indonesia and Malaysia, Ambassador Kadir said this was still under discussion.

This refers to the meeting of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto and the Prime Minister of Malaysia at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta some time ago.

"What is certain is, in the process of talking, our two leaders see all possibilities, where we are trying to find the best solution for the two countries according to international law," he concluded.