JAKARTA, April 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reiterated Friday that Indonesia owns the offshore area of Ambalat in Sulawesi Sea despite a claim by neighboring Malaysia.

    "Indonesia's stance is very clear that the disputed area, the Ambalat, is part of the Indonesian territory," Susilo said in a speech delivered to the members of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) here.

    He said he was convinced about Ambalat ownership after inspecting the area aboard an Indonesian warship about two months ago.

    "I know exactly where our boundaries are,"said Susilo.

    Susilo stressed that Malaysia is a close friend of Indonesia, but his administration "will not sacrifice the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

    The disputed area is located between Indonesia's East Kalimantan Province and Malaysia's Sabah State and near the Sipadan and Ligitan islands, which Malaysia won from Indonesia on the International Court of Justice's ruling after decades-long dispute. Enditem