Jokowi And PM Lee Agree On Extradition Cooperation Of Indonesian-Singapore Fugitives

President Joko Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong were directly at the Prime Minister's Office to hold informal meetings in Singapore on Thursday (16/3/2023). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesia and Singapore have agreed on three agreements in the fields of politics, law and security between the two countries, namely for the approval of the "Flight Information Region" (FIR), extradition and defense cooperation.

The agreement was reached at the meeting of President Joko Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong at the Leaders' Retreat meeting which took place at the Prime Minister's Office, Singapore.

"In the field of legal politics and security, it is ratified that three agreements have been completed, namely the approval of the 'Flight Information Region' (FIR), extradition agreement, and defense cooperation agreement," President Jokowi said at a joint press conference with PM Lee Hsien Long in Singapore, quoted by ANTARA Thursday, March 16.

According to President Jokowi, much progress has been made since the meeting of the two leaders in Bintan in January 2022. Singapore's investment in Indonesia has increased by more than 40 percent, and trading volume has increased by 25 percent.

"To strengthen the implementation of the three agreements, PM Lee and I agreed to immediately do several things, namely, update between the Prosecutor's Office, and resolve the MoU between the police for eradicating cross-border crimes and forming a 'Defense Cooperation Committee' and making implementation technical rules related to the FIR, defense and extradition agreement," said the President.

President Jokowi also welcomed the reactivation of joint marine patrols in strengthening maritime security between the two countries and strengthening disaster management capacity, especially search and rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, PM Lee said the two countries had had long discussions before finally agreeing to reach the three agreements.

"We have discussed these issues for a long time so it takes a long journey to this point. I thank President Jokowi and his ministers for leadership, support and hard work so that these agreements can be ratified. Singapore is waiting for further cooperation with Indonesia in its implementation," said PM Lee.

PM Lee also said last week Singapore and Indonesia had submitted a request to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding the newly agreed FIR agreement between the two countries.

"If ICAO has received ICAO approval, the two countries agree to determine the date of application of the three agreements so that they can provide benefits to the two countries while reflecting strong bilateral relations between Singapore and Indonesia through open and constructive relations," said PM Lee.