Camelia Pasandaran – Indonesia has agreed to step up cooperation in solving border problems with East Timor, its former territory, an Indonesian presidential spokesman said on Tuesday.
"President [Susilo Bambang] Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao agreed to improve management by using a soft approach," said Teuku Faizasyah, the presidential spokesman for international relations, at a press conference after a meeting between the two heads of state at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta
"The government has put extra effort into finalizing discussions on three border areas," Teuku said.
The three areas discussed were Delomil village in Belu district, Manusasi village in Timor Tengah Utara district, and Naktuka village in Kupang district. The United Nations has decreed that there should not be any development in the three disputed regions. However, it has been reported that East Timor has been pushing ahead regardless.
"These are land border issues," Teuku said. "We need to settle these three border problems so that we can move on to the maritime baseline of the two countries."
The two heads of state on Tuesday also witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding on decentralization and local government, diplomatic education and training, public works infrastructure, education and training in the fields of transportation and trade.
"It was a very productive, fruitful discussion. We were able to make some commitments. Five MoUs were signed this afternoon," Teuku said. "This is a clear reflection that the two countries are ready to move forward in many areas of cooperation."
The Indonesian government also reported its willingness to invest in infrastructure in East Timor and to offer its neighbor credit to buy military hardware.
"East Timor says it wants to buy military equipment and our government is ready to provide it with export credit," Teuku said.
Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said East Timor wanted to buy a fast patrol boat to protect its territory and that it had ordered a $20 million boat from shipbuilder PAL Indonesia that Indonesia was willing to let it buy using export credit.
The Indonesian government also said it would support East Timor's bid for membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.