VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia and Malaysia has agreed to accelerate negotiation on boundary issue between the two countries. The negotiation which is conducted by the two countries, is hoped to be able to produce an agreement, namely Border Crossing Agreement (BCA) within two months. Because border trade will not begin if the BCA is not resolved. This was stated by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi in a joint press statement with Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah at Gedung Pancasila, in Jakarta, on Monday (23/7).

“For land border, we are negotiating called Border Crossing Agreement. So,we are checking Border Crossing Agreement together. We agree that within one until two months, we can finish it. So, if BCA has finished, we can begin to discuss its border trade. Because there is no cooperationin border trade if its border crossing is not finished yet. Because of that, we see OK, we will push to resolve Border Crossing Agreement/BCA, at least within two months” she stated.

Furthermore, Minister Retno Marsudi explained for border point at sea area, Malacca Straits and Sulawesi Sea will become the priority to be negotiated in a short time. After the two points of the border are agreed and formalized,the negotiation will be continued to other border points. In addition, the two countries also have given full mandate to the technical team and from the stakeholders related to the border of the two countries. The team will report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which later determines the thing which should be finished. Malaysia is neighboring country with the longest border area with Indonesia, both land and maritime border. (VOI/REZHA/Trans Yati/AHM)