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SINGAPORE: Singapore's Foreign Ministry has delivered a Third Party Note to the Indonesian Embassy here asking the Indonesian government to release detained vessels carrying granite exports to Singapore.
Currently, 12 tugboats and 12 barges have been detained, most of which are flying the Singapore flag.
Speaking in Parliament, Foreign Minister George Yeo noted that both the Indonesian Foreign Minister and Trade Minister had assured him and Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Khiang that there is no ban on granite exports to Singapore.
Mr Yeo said: "From time to time, we must expect countries to pressure us in the hope that we will then give way to their demands. Singaporeans know that if we give in to such pressures, we would only invite more of such pressures.
"However, we are always prepared to build good relations with them on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. We should still help them when they are in difficulty, not because we expect gratitude or reward, but because that is the right thing to do."
- CNA/so
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