Thus, we can continue to strengthen various collaborations in accordance with the principle of mutual benefit.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian and Singaporean governments have approved several agreements on extradition, Flight Information Region (FIR), and defense cooperation establishment, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated in Bintan District, Riau Islands Province, on Tuesday.

"The new extradition agreement extends the retroactive period, from 15 years to 18 years," Jokowi noted in a joint press statement with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after attending the Indonesian-Singaporean Leaders' Retreat.

Earlier, both nations had signed an extradition agreement on April 27, 2007. However, it cannot be enacted since the governments of the countries had not ratified the agreement. Hence, in 2019, Indonesia proposed the agreement to be discussed again.

Extension of the retroactive period made the agreement to be enforced against crimes that took place 18 years prior to the pact's enactment.

The newly agreed retroactive period is in accordance with the expiry period of a criminal case regulated in Article 78 of the Indonesian Criminal Code.

Apart from extradition, the agreement allows prosecution or trial or execution of sentences for the 31 extraditable criminal acts included in Mutual Legal Assistance in the Criminal Matters Agreement between the ASEAN member countries.

"Meanwhile, the signing of the FIR agreement makes the Jakarta FIR to cover the territorial airspace over Riau Islands and Natuna Islands," the Indonesian president stated.

Since 1946, the areas were under the Singapore FIR, as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assessed that Indonesia had not been able to regulate air traffic in the areas.

The regulation necessitates Indonesian aircraft to report to the Singaporean authorities if they are looking to fly over the area.

Hence, the Indonesian government is striving to take over the areas from the Singapore FIR to strengthen international recognition of Indonesia, as an archipelagic country, which has full and exclusive sovereignty on the airspace above its territory.

Currently, Indonesia has two FIR areas: the Jakarta FIR and Ujung Pandang FIR.

In addition, a joint statement was issued by the defense ministers of the two countries regarding the concrete commitment to enact the 2007 Defence Cooperation Agreement.

The meeting also included an exchange of letters between Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan and Singaporean Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean.

In future, Jokowi expected cooperation on law enforcement for aviation safety and security defense of the two countries.

"Thus, we can continue to strengthen various collaborations in accordance with the principle of mutual benefit," he remarked.

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Translator: Desca Natalia, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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