Land reclamation works not factor in talks with Jakarta: MFA

16 March 2007 (CNA)

SINGAPORE: Singapore's foreign ministry has reiterated that the country's land reclamation works are conducted within Singapore's territorial waters.

And Singapore has always stated that it would not be a factor in ongoing maritime boundary negotiations with Indonesia.

The third round of the negotiations will be held in Singapore at the end of the month.

A spokesman for the ministry was responding to media queries about an article in the Straits Times on 17 March 2007.

It is entitled "Jakarta fears S'pore will use reclaimed shoreline to decide border".

The spokesman stressed that the Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo had made clear Singapore's position when he spoke in Parliament on 12 February this year on the issue.


- CNA/so