History the focus of RI, Malaysia talks

The Jakarta Post, 3 Feb 2009

JAKARTA: The Indonesian members of the Indonesia-Malaysia Eminent Persons Group (EPG) have called for a discussion about the documented history of the two countries.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Monday the dialogue would help promote relations between the two neighbors.

"The history of each respective country is being forgotten by the younger generations.

A discussion on the two countries' histories will therefore be planned," Dino said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received the initial recommendation for talks from the EPG on Monday, which is chaired by former vice president Try Soetrisno.

Dino said the Indonesian EPG members had already presented the first part of several written recommendations from the group.

"We are planning a bilateral meeting between President Yudhoyono and the Malaysian prime minister around mid-March," Dino said. -JP