We also discuss the need to create kind of standard operating procedures and rules of engagement to regulate settlement in case problems occur in disputed areas in the sea area,"
Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he hoped that discussions on delimitation of the Indonesia-Malaysia maritime borders, especially those in the Sulawesi Sea, would have made sufficient progress to settle the matter in 2012.

He expressed the hope at a joint press conference with Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak after holding the 8th Indonesia-Malaysia bilateral consultation meeting in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara, here on Thursday.

"Gladly I would like to inform that because of the hard work of two teams from the two sides a lot of progress has been achieved. We hope next year when we hold the next annual consultation meeting in Malaysia, God willing, the position will advance leading to the settlement that we all wish for the best interest of the two nations," he said.

Besides discussing borders the two heads of government said delegations from the two countries had also discussed the need to create a kind of standard operating procedure for dispute settlement.

"We also discuss the need to create kind of standard operating procedures and rules of engagement to regulate settlement in case problems occur in disputed areas in the sea area," he said.

That way President Yudhoyono said solutions found would be correct, good and fair.

"We also agreed to always manage demarcation of land borders with full responsibility," he said without telling border points he meant.

Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak meanwhile hoped discussions on border in the Sulawesi Sea could continue to make progress.

"We may become a role model for the world with regard to how the two countries despite all the complexities could make an agreement and create thorough settlement," he said.

Last week Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa after attending the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation meeting between Indonesia and Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur said that some progress had been made in the bilateral relations between the two countries including an agreement on provisional territorial sea border in Sulawesi Sea and technical discussion in the border segment around the Strait of Singapore.

In the annual consultation meeting the two countries` leaders also agreed to continue and improve military cooperation which is the backbone of the two countries` cooperation in addition to cooperation between two police forces and in law enforcement especially in dealing with cross-border crimes.

The two countries also agreed to increase cooperation in investment and trade.

Trade between the two countries last year reached US$18.1 billion with Malaysian investment in Indonesia ranked 8th,

Before the press conference the two witnessed the signing of two protocols for the amendment of the memorandum of understanding on avoidance of double taxation and bilateral and commodities cooperation.

During the meeting President Yudhoyono was flanked by coordinating minister for political, security and law affairs Djoko Suyanto, coordinating minister for people`s welfare Agung Laksono, coordinating minister for economic affairs Hatta Rajasa, foreign minister Marty Natalegawa, state enterprises minister Dahlan Iskan, education minister M Nuh, tourism and creative economy minister Mari Pangestu and minister of information and communication Tifatul Sembiring.

Prime Minister Najib Razak was accompanied by foreign minister Anifah Aman, minister of plantations and industrial commodities Bernard Giluk Dompok, home affairs minister Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein and agriculture minister Nor bin Omar. (*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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