"The settlement of these problems may not be achieved in just one or two years."Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said he hoped Indonesia-Malaysia and Indonesia-Singapore border problems could be settled according to the ASEAN Charter.
"The border problems should be settled according to the ASEAN Charter because the two countries are also ASEAN members," he said here on Monday.
He said as a fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations it would be appropriate for Indonesia and its two neighbors to settle their border problems in ASEAN ways.
He said by using the ASEAN Charter it was hoped the border problems that had caused detention of traditional fishermen could be ended.
Nonetheless, he said, the problems were not likely to be settled in a short period of time.
"The settlement of our border problem with Vietnam took 12 years. The settlement of these problems may not be achieved in just one or two years," he said.
He said the task of negotiating meanwhile was in the hands of the ministry of foreign affairs.
Minister Yusgiantoro said the territorial border at the three border areas had been settled but problems remained on the continental and exclusive economic zone areas.
(Uu.H-YH/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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