Indonesia and Malaysia on Friday said they would not pull back their navy ships from a stand-off in the Sulawesi Sea over a petroleum-rich area, but pledged to avoid conflicts, negotiate any disagreements and be friendly toward each other. "If problems arise and cannot be avoided, they need to be solved through negotiations," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters after an hour-long meeting with visiting Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla. "We will resolve any differences through dialogue, fruitful discussions ... to ensure there is no conflict," said Kalla, who arrived earlier Friday for a two-day visit. Najib said both countries would maintain a military presence in the area, but would ensure there would be no conflicts. Kalla spoke briefly on the issue, saying both sides would carry out "friendly patrols that will not create any conflict."
