Singapore - Singapore and Malaysia should be more relaxed now about safeguarding their claims over Pulau Batu Puteh and Middle Rocks in the Singapore Straits after the International Court of Justice had made its ruling last week.
"We should be more relaxed now about safeguarding our claims, about the intensity of our patrols and so on," local media Monday quoted Singapore`s Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo as saying in Yangon, Myanmar Sunday.
While there, Yeo met Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim on the sidelines of an Asean-United Nations-sponsored donor conference on Myanmar which both were attending as representatives of their respective countries.
"When both sides get something, it is easier to keep a relationship", Yeo said, adding that bilateral relations between Singapore and Malaysia were very good and both ministers were determined to push it to a higher level.
The ICJ last Friday gave Singapore sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh or Pedra Branca as Singapore calls it, and Malaysia ownership of Middle Rocks. However, the position of a third rock, South Ledge was not determined by the ICJ.
The media also quoted Rais as saying that the episode of almost three decades had ended and the judgement by the ICJ was a `win-win` situation for both countries.
"It is a victory for Singapore and it is a winning episode for Malaysia for having obtained the Middle Rocks," Rais said.
Yeo also said that it was Malaysia`s turn this year to host the friendly games between Wisma Putra and Singapore`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"He (Rais) doesn`t play golf; I don`t play badminton, so we thought we will go fishing. Maybe, we will go fishing between Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks," said Yeo.
Source: www.bernama.com - Zakaria Abdul Wahab (28 Mei 2008)
