Indonesian President Joko Widodo (right) and Timor Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak. (Source: tempo.co)
According to a VNA correspondent in Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Timor-Leste counterpart, Bendito Dos Santos Freitas, have agreed to conclude long-stalled negotiations between the two countries on land and maritime borders.
According to a statement by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry in Jakarta on July 15, both ministers affirmed that the two governments are prioritizing the development of exclusive economic zones in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and Timor-Leste's Oecusse-Ambeno exclave.
The statement also said the two countries will first complete land border negotiations before discussing issues related to maritime borders.
The two sides reached the above consensus at a meeting on the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56). During the meeting, Foreign Minister Freitas expressed his desire to promote bilateral relations with Indonesia and appreciated the country’s support in the process of Timor Leste applying for ASEAN membership.
In June 2022, Indonesia and Timor Leste agreed to promote cooperation in border areas to contribute to improving the lives of people in Oecusse bordering Indonesia's easternmost districts of Kupang, Timor Tengah Utara, Belu, and Malaka.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo also announced earlier this year that the two countries agreed to soon complete the land border demarcation this year for the remaining two sections, Noel Besi in Citrana district and Bidjael Suna in Oben district.
President Widodo said that completing land boundary negotiations between the two countries is important to be able to start negotiations at sea, as well as promoting the construction of border gates.
Source: VNA/Vietnam+
Source link
Comment (0)