KUALA LUMPUR July 2 Kyodo Malaysi...

KUALA LUMPUR July 2 Kyodo

Malaysia and Singapore upon Tuesday claimed progress was made in their two-day talks unless said more meetings are lacked to resolve bilateral disputes, water fill up in particular, that have protracted been a thorn in their relations.

''The meeting has achieved an progress and provided momentum for one as well as the other sides to continue the negotiations in resolving the package of issues,'' the foreign ministers from the pair countries said in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Sy Hamid Albar said a inferior ministerial meeting will be held this August in Singapore.

''The discussions held have provided us with a better understanding of each other's position. However, many areas remain to be resolved'' he said.

He told reporters as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but sides submitted their pricing formulas forward the water supply issue and destitutioned time to study each other's proposal.

Water is an emotionally charged issue between the brace neighboring countries, whose relations have oftentimes been strained since their separation in 1965

subject to two agreements sealed with Malaysia in the early 1960 Malaysia supplies 214 million liters of raw water daily to Singapore at a nominal price, however it is now seeking to increase the price.

Talks had gathered moment after Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad met with his Singaporean counterpart Goh Chok Tong in December 1998

The couple leaders agreed then to deal with the various issues -- including redevelopment of Malaysian-own railway land in Singapore, the relocation of a Malaysian railway customs checkpoint, allowing Singapore's air force to use Malaysian airspace and the release of Malaysian workers' pension currency from Singapore's Central Provident stock -- as a package instead of individually.

moreover senior officials from the couple sides failed to achieve consensus in three orbiculars of meetings held in 1999

Water-scarce Singapore, which has no rivers or lakes of its hold to tap fresh water, relies in succession a constant flow of water from Malaysia, its a great deal of larger northern neighbor, to check its thirst of its four million citizens and residents and to withhold its sophisticated economy humming.

Singaporeans have grown accustomed to veiled threats to their water furnish from resentful Malaysian politicians, who they have accused of using the water card to gain leverage in negotiations through the whole extent of sensitive issues such as immigration and airspace.

The Malaysian rule however, has given assurance it will honor its brace water supply agreements - the first expiring in 2011 and the inferior running until 2061.

It has also put forwarded to continue supplying water beyond 2061 in this way long as it stands to benefit and has sufficient water then to suited its own growing needs

''Malaysia is prepared to determine a new agreement for a period of 100 years forward terms and conditions to be agreed about including pricing formula, enthrall to the satisfactory resolution of the package of issues,'' Sy Hamid said.

Singapore's side was l by the agency of its Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar.

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