Land reclamation not factor in talks with Jakarta: Singapore

The Straits Times, March 18, 2007

SINGAPORE'S land reclamation works are carried out within the Republic's territorial waters and would not be a factor in maritime boundary talks with Indonesia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

It added that the third round of the negotiations would be held in Singapore at the end of this month.

The MFA statement was issued in response to media queries on a Straits Times report yesterday which alluded to Jakarta's concern that Singapore would use its reclaimed shoreline as a basis for talks on demarcating maritime boundaries.

Setting the record straight, the MFA spokesman said yesterday: 'Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo has made clear Singapore's position when he spoke in Parliament on Feb 12, 2007. Our land reclamation works are conducted within Singapore's territorial waters.

'We have always stated that they would not be a factor in ongoing maritime boundary negotiations with Indonesia.'