UNTAET Media Briefing Notes 30.4.2001

Dili, 30 April 2001
 

NATIONAL COUNCIL BRIEFED ON TIMOR GAP

Alkatiri began by explaining the agreement between Australia and Indonesia, negotiated in 1989, noting that if one were to abide by international law and norms, 100 per cent of the oil reserves of the Timor Gap belong to East Timor.

The Cabinet members outlined the starting point for the negotiations:

the agreement signed in 1972 between Australia and Indonesia regarding the Seabed Treaty which delineated a seabed boundary between Indonesia and Australia. Portugal, then the administering power of East Timor, did not accept the boundaries that were negotiated, making the definition of the boundary of the seabed between East Timor and Australia the primary matter for negotiation.
The Council members raised many questions, which led to further discussion on a range of related issues. Both Cabinet members agreed to return to the Committee to update the members following the next round of Timor Gap negotiations in Brisbane, Australia, on 2-4 May.

See also:
BD: TIMOR OIL - A collection of recent reports, position statements, petitions, articles and news