On the 27th and 28th of February, in Auditorium Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, in Ministry of Finance, will be held the ASEAN Regional Forum Workshop, dedicated to the Dispute Resolution and Law of the Sea. The event is being organized jointly by Timor-Leste, Australia and Malaysia.

The objectives of the ASEAN Regional Forum Workshop are to examine and discuss various avenues for dispute resolution under international law, explore the Conciliation between Timor-Leste and Australia, and outline the operation of the conciliation process under Article 298 and Annex V of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea – UNCLOS (composition of commission, rules of procedure, final report etc.) and consider emerging issues in dispute resolution in the region.


Agenda

Day One: Thursday, 27 February – 8.45am – 5.30pm

Session one: Welcome and keynotes:
Introduction by the Co-chairs (Malaysia, Timor-Leste and Australia)
Welcome Keynote by H.E Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Keynote: History of dispute resolution in the region
Session two: Dispute resolution and law of the sea: Conciliation under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention (Timor-Leste and Australia Conciliation)
Session three: Dealing with issues of jurisdiction and admissibility: Lessons from the Timor-Leste and Australia Conciliation (and other cases)
Session four: Models of dispute resolution and choice of mechanism


Day Two: Friday 28 February – 9am – 5.15pm

Session one: Resolving disputes in relation to maritime boundaries
Session two: Resolving disputes in relation to fisheries and the environment
Session three: A regional dispute resolution practice?: Past and future approaches
Session four: Wrap up and close:
Facilitated discussion: Lessons learned and conclusions
Closing session