Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão meets with UN Secretary-General
At 4:00pm on the 13th of April [5:00am Dili time today] the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment and Chief Negotiator for Maritime Boundaries, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon.
The two met at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Minister Gusmão said he had requested the meeting “to discuss the national priority of our nation – determining our permanent maritime boundaries.”
The meeting followed the notice given by the Government of Timor-Leste to the Government of Australia on Monday this week announcing the initiation of Compulsory Conciliation under the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS].
Timor-Leste launched this process as a way to move the two countries toward the negotiation of maritime boundaries. The Maritime Boundary Office is explained in a fact sheet about Compulsory Conciliation .
In a Press Conference after the meeting Minister Gusmão said “We look forward to working with the United Nations, with independent conciliators and with Australia, to achieve our national priority – sovereignty over our seas as well as our lands".
A Statement from the Government Spokesperson about the New York meeting is here.
A Press Statement from the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment and Chief Negotiator for Maritime Boundaries is here.
