"What is important is not only the legal aspect of the border issues but also the spirit to resolve them," he said at a dialog on international defense here on Friday.
He expressed his belief that both countries would be able to resolve the border issues in the not-so-distant future.
Both Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had been working hard to resolve the border disputes, he said.
However, the two governments` hard working would not be effective if the two peoples particularly the mass media did not support it, he said.
He appealed to the Indonesian media to write stories conducive to the settlement of the border issues. "The conventional media such as electronic and print media as well as the social media must play a role in creating good atmosphere."
He said the Indonesian media had very often criticized his country`s border policies. "Both governments have been working hard to resolve all border issues. But if the peoples of the two countries create problems the border issues will become increasingly complicated."
Tensions between the two neighboring countries flared-up last year after three Indonesian fisheries officers detained seven Malaysian fishermen on charges of straying into their territory.
The three Indonesians were later detained by Malaysian maritime authorities who intercepted the group as they were being taken back to Indonesia. All were later released.
Also last year foreign ministers of the two countries met to agree on measures aimed at preventing a recurrence of the incident.
The Indonesian-Malaysian borders consist of land and sea borders.
Both nations are trying to resolve their dispute over the Ambalat waters which is currently put under status quo. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
