Indonesia, Malaysia resume Ambalat talks
Tuesday, July 14 2009 - 12:55 AM WIB
Indonesia and Malaysia resumed on Monday their negotiation over the disputed oil and gas-rich maritime territory of Ambalat in Sulawesi Strait, Antara state news agency reported.
The bilateral meeting, held in Putrajaya, Malaysia will run until Tuesday,
Indonesia is represented by Director General of International Treaties at the Foreign Ministry Arif Havas Oegroseno and officials from the Defense Ministry, Indonesian Navy and National Mapping and Survey Coordinating Board (Bakosurtanal).
Malaysia claims the area based on a 1979 maritime chart, while Indonesia bases its claims on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which states the area belongs to Indonesia.
Indonsia has awarded several oil and gas gas concessions to contractors in the area, including the Ambalat block to Italian firm Eni Spa and the East Ambalat block to Chevron. (*)