BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 15 (Bernama) -- The ending of the overlapping land and maritime border issues between Malaysia-Brunei Darussalam with the inking of the Letters of Exchange (LOEs) between leaders of both countries on Monday, will be a milestone achievement in the bilateral relations between both countries, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said on Sunday.

He said with the signing of the LOEs between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei at the Istana Darul Iman here tomorrow, would mark the end of the long tussle between both countries over land boundaries especially involving Sarawak, and maritime boundaries.

"The letters contain several principles of cooperation to be implemented in the surveying and demarcation of the land and maritime borders," he told Malaysian journalists who will be covering the milestone event here today.

Rais said finally Malaysia could determine several land and sea areas for commercial exploitation which now had been agreed on in principle by both parties and would later serve the interests of the two nations besides determining the Exclusive Economic Zones and maritime region.

"The resolution of this matter between the Prime Minister and the Sultan of Brunei has very high value in the context of intra-Asean cooperation and between both countries," he said.

He said both countries in reaching the agreement to settle the issues had used five old treaties regarding the demarcation of the borders which started since 1920. The five agreements previously will serve as the guide for the future dealings.

The "watershed principle" would be used as the guide for the land border while the United Nation's Convention on the Law of the Sea for the EEZ and maritime regions, he said.

He said talks to arrive at an agreement to resolve the issues lasted six years with 39 sessions held between the two countries before things were finalised for the LOEs.

Describing the exchange of letters between both countries as a "happy ending" and a win-win situation for both parties, he said the result was one of give and take between both governments in the spirit of neighbourliness.

Pursuant to the exchange of the letters, a joint technical commitee will be given the task to finalise the details on the boundary issues between both countries.

Among the issues include overlapping claims in the Limbang district of Sarawak and also in sea areas rich in gas and oil reserves but could not be exploited because of the differences.

-- BERNAMA