Philippines and Indonesia resolve 20-year border dispute

May 24 BBC

The Philippines and Indonesia have settled a maritime border dispute after 20 years of negotiations.Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said this was a "good example" of how to resolve sovereignty issues without force.Meanwhile, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said his country wanted to end maritime issues through legal and peaceful means.The deal comes amid increased regional tension over territorial disputes.

Deadly riots erupted in Vietnam last week, after China's decision to move a drilling rig into disputed waters in the South China Sea.The foreign ministers of Indonesia and the Philippines met in Manila to sign the agreement, which defines maritime borders in the overlapping exclusive economic zones of the Mindanao and Celebes Seas in the southern Philippines.Mr Yudhoyono is currently in the Philippines for a state visit and for the World Economic Forum on East Asia.This indeed is a model, a good example, that any disputes including maritime border tension can be resolved peacefully not with the use of military might which [may] endanger stability and peace in our region," Mr Yudhoyono said.

For his part, Mr Aquino said: "It serves as solid proof to our steadfast commitment to uphold the rule of law and pursue the peaceful and equitable settlement of maritime concerns.