BACK DOOR Newsletter on East Timor

Aug-Sep 2004 TSO: Maritime Boundary Dispute 
Speech updated 11 Apr 2005
BD: This speech provides a useful background summary of events and discussions so far
"It is Timor-Leste’s position that Australia must honor the IUA [International Unitization Agreement] if Timor-Leste is to ratify it. What does this involve? The IUA will not be ratified by Timor-Leste until Australia abides by the relevant rules of international law applicable in the relations between the parties.
* This requires Australia to:
-- commit to a satisfactory time frame for negotiations,
-- after which either party will be able to seek resolution of the maritime boundary dispute before a neutral international mechanism, should agreement not have been reached.
* Further, Australia will have to:
-- cease unilateral activity in disputed areas in accordance with diplomatic correspondence from Timor-Leste, or
-- take adequate interim measures (e.g. placing revenues in escrow) to preserve Timor-Leste’s rights in these areas pending resolution of the dispute." Manuel de Lemos, Asst Coordinator, Timor Sea Office, Office of the Timor-Leste Prime Minister

2004 TSJC: Historical Background to the Timor Sea dispute 
Info updated 11 Apr 2005
"* Oil and gas worth more than US $30 billion [Now worth well over US$68 billion: See 26 Mar 05 McKee: How much is Sunrise really worth?] lie under the Timor Sea, between East Timor and Australia, * 68% of the petroleum resources in the Timor Sea lie closer to East Timor than to Australia, and are claimed by East Timor under International Law * Under current revenue sharing arrangements, Australia takes 72% of the petroleum revenues in the Timor Sea, including almost 60% of the revenues from fields closer to East Timor than to Australia. " Timor Sea Justice Coalition, Australia

2004 TSJC: Area of Timor Sea dispute  Info added 25 Aug 2004
"If international law under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) were to be applied all of the Bayu-Undan, Greater Sunrise and Laminaria/Corralina reserves would fall within Timor Leste's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) - within Timor Leste's maritime boundary." Timor Sea Justice Coalition, Australia