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Timor Leste, Indonesia to complete border issues
Timor Leste and Indonesia agreed Tuesday to greater cooperation on many issues, with the leaders of the two nations expressing a commitment to preserving good bilateral ties
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Timor Leste and Indonesia agreed Tuesday to greater cooperation on many issues, with the leaders of the two nations expressing a commitment to preserving good bilateral ties.
The agreement followed a meeting between visiting Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Bilateral relations between the neighbors were recently put at risk following repeated allegations by Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta that individuals in Indonesia were to connected to the attempted assassinations of him and Xanana in February.
The two leaders discussed the completion of border demarcation, said Yudhoyono at a joint press conference.
"We're both glad that 97 percent of the area along the border has been demarcated. And we hope the technical committee can complete the process by this year or next year," Yudhoyono said.
He added he would support a lenient arrangement for traditional border crossers.
The two countries agreed on 97 percent of the land border spanning 268.8 kilometers, following a discussion at the Technical Sub-Committee on Border Demarcation and Regulation in Bali in February.
There are three border sections which have remained unresolved, covering Dilumil/Memo, Bijael Sunan Oben and Noel Besi/Citrana.
The two countries have also agreed to boost defense cooperation, Yudhoyono said, which could include education for military personnel and courtesy calls.
During the meeting, Yudhoyono supported the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Missions in Timor Leste (UNMIT), which will finish February next year. He also supported Timor Leste's preparation for their admission into ASEAN in 2012.
Indonesia has appointed Ambassador Agus Tarmidzi as a senior advisor to Timor Leste foreign affairs ministry to help the country prepare.
On education and cultural issues, Yudhoyono said he welcomed Timor Leste students who pursue education here and appreciated the establishment of the Indonesian Language and Cultural Center in Dili.
On climate change issues, Yudhoyono welcomed Timor Leste's participation in the Coral Triangle Initiative, a multilateral cooperation involving six Asian-Pacific countries, including Indonesia, to safeguard coral reefs from degradation and the impact from global warming.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of a trade agreement and memorandum of understanding (MOU) on technical cooperation and trade between the Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu and Timor Leste's Minister for Tourism, Commerce and Industry Gil da Costa Alves.
Later in the day, Timor Leste and Indonesian trade ministers signed a MOU on technical cooperation concerning small and medium industries.
The ceremony also included the signing of MOU on technical cooperation on drug and food control. It was signed by Indonesia's Drug and Food Supervisory Agency Husnia Rubiana Thamrin Akib and Timor Leste's Minister of Health Nelson Martinus.
Timor Leste still depends on Indonesia's supply of staple foods, with some 75 percent of its commodities imported from Indonesia.
Trade cooperation between the two countries, in which Indonesia always enjoys a surplus, has shown a downward trend since 2003. Last year, the trade value decreased by 74.7 percent from 2006's US$30.69 million.
