SINGAPORE : The foreign ministers of Singapore and Malaysia have urged their senior officials to make an attempt to narrow differences arising from the bilateral issues being discussed.
And if this is not possible, they have been asked to crystallise the issues so they can be sent to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi for a political decision.
Making these points in Parliament on Friday, Foreign Minister George Yeo says negotiations on the proposal to build a bridge to replace the causeway are still ongoing.
Mr Yeo said: "Singapore's position on the full bridge remains unchanged. Singapore can agree to Malaysia's proposal to replace the Causeway with a new bridge only if there is a balance of benefits on both sides.
"Only then can the considerable costs involved including our side of a new bridge be justified. It is how this balance of benefits is to be achieved that is currently being discussed between the officials of both sides.
"On a half bridge, Singapore's consistent position has been reiterated on several occasions. On 25th October 2003, we sent a TPN (third party note) to Malaysia stating that any unilateral decision to demolish its side of the Causeway to construct a half bridge has to comply with the principles enunciated in the order issued by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
"Our TPN also stated that international facilities like the Causeway could not be demolished without the approval, agreement and involvement of both states.
"When I met Syed Hamid during the MFA-Wisma games, I said while Singapore fully respected Malaysia's sovereignty, any major works in the Straits of Johor could affect Singapore and we needed to know the details to assess the environmental and other impact." - CNA/de