Government launches landmark Policy Paper on Maritime Boundaries

Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Dili, August 29th, 2016

Government launches landmark Policy Paper on Maritime Boundaries

H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo today launched the Timor-Leste Policy Paper on Maritime Boundaries, at an official event at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in Dili.

The Prime Minister said that the document “tells the story of Timor-Leste’s struggle for sovereign rights over our seas – from the past to the present, and what it means for the future.”

The Policy Paper outlines the relevant principles of the law of the sea and sets out Timor-Leste’s position on where its maritime boundaries should lie under international law. It also provides an overview of Timor-Leste’s history, and the history of Timor’s maritime boundary issues.

The Timor-Leste Policy Paper on Maritime Boundaries was launched in Dili, as the Chief Negotiator for Maritime Boundaries, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and the Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, H.E. Agio Pereira participated in a presentation of Timor-Leste’s case for maritime boundaries at an open session of the Conciliation Commission in The Hague as part of the compulsory conciliation proceedings on maritime boundaries.

At the launch in Dili the Prime Minister said establishing maritime boundaries was a priority for the people and Government of Timor-Leste and noted that “Permanent maritime boundaries will provide certainty for many of our industries including customs, security, immigration services, tourism, fisheries and resources. This certainty”, he said, “will strengthen confidence and encourage business and investment and lead to more jobs. This, in turn, will boost our economy and contribute to building a prosperous future for our people. “

The first section of the Policy Paper contains an executive summary which is available in Tetum, Portuguese and English. The paper can be downloaded from the website of the Maritime Boundary Office at www.gfm.tl. ENDS

url: http://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=16067