| Associated
Press June 13, 2007 SINGAPORE JAKARTA has delayed the implementation of a bilateral defense pact by seeking last-minute changes, Singapore said Wednesday, June 13, refuting Indonesia's reported claim that the city-state was holding up ratification. Negotiations for the defense pact officially ended April 23. Since then, Indonesia has asked for "substantive changes and new conditions" that Singapore does not want, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It did not provide details of Indonesia's proposed amendments. The terms of the agreement "cannot be changed casually or piecemeal, without risking the whole package," the ministry said. The Foreign Ministry said it was responding to comments made by Indonesian Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono that Singapore had delayed ratification of the agreement by rejecting a proposal from Jakarta concerning training for Singapore's military. Juwono said Jakarta suggested that the two countries jointly determine the details of Singapore's military training in Indonesia - including its scope and frequency - but that the island nation wanted to unilaterally decide the arrangements. "Singapore's position is that the agreements are already settled," the Foreign Ministry said in the statement, adding that the government was "puzzled" by Juwono's comments. It said Singapore has submitted another proposal aimed at resolving the issue and is awaiting Jakarta's response. Singapore and Indonesia signed an extradition treaty in April that Jakarta hopes will help it recover billions of dollars of government funds allegedly embezzled during the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis by Indonesians now living in Singapore. Bilateral relations have been tested in recent months by Indonesian steps to ban sand exports to Singapore, citing environmental concerns. Indonesia is the main supplier of sand - used to make concrete - in wealthy but resource-poor Singapore. |
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