INDONESIA READY TO DISCUSS MARITIME BORDER DISPUTES WITH M'SIA

JAKARTA, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian government has expressed its
readiness to discuss maritime disputes with the Malaysian government, involving
five segments, in Kota Kinabalu (capital city of East Malaysia Sabah state) on
Sept 6.

The five segments to be discussed are the Straits of Melaka, Straits of
Melaka south, Straits of Singapore, Straits of Sulawesi and South China Sea.

"We have prepared everything necessary and submitted the agenda to the
Malaysian government for the preparation of a Joint Ministerial Conference,
including bilateral relationship between the two countries," Indonesian Foreign
Minister Dr Marty Natalegawa told reporters in Jakarta, Friday.

Indonesia is determined and committed to expedite discussions involving
border disputes to avoid future incidents that can strain the relationship
between both countries, including a Standard Operating Procedure at such areas,
he said.

"We will request for a quick date for such discussions. The incident that
took place in waters of Bintan on Aug 13, revealed how important it is to
discuss border disputes," he said.

Dr Marty would be the head of the Indonesian delegation for the talks and
accompanied by a number of officers from various departments.

Apart from the maritime border talks, the Indonesian delegation would also
seek clarification on the Aug 13 incident, which has strained the relationship
between the two countries, he said.

During the Aug 13 incident, Indonesian Maritime and Fisheries Department
enforcement officers arrested seven Malaysian fishermen said to have encroached
into Indonesian waters while Malaysian marine police arrested the three
Indonesian officers for allegedly trespassing in Malaysian waters.

However, all those detained were released on Aug 17.

-- BERNAMA