Media Releases
- 14 of March of 2018Council of Ministers Meeting of 14th March 2018Approvedmore
1. Government Resolution Proposal for additional shares subscription of the RDTL
2. Government Resolution Proposal to strengthen coordination and resources in the ASEAN accession process
Analyzed
1. Government Resolution Proposal that establishes the Interministerial Commission for the organization of the "Business and Investment Forum" in Singapore
2. Government Resolution Proposal to strengthen the coordination and the resources in the process of negotiating land borders 
06 of March of 2018Australia and Timor-Leste sign historic Maritime Boundary TreatyJOINT MEDIA RELEASEmore
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia
The Hon Julie Bishop MP
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister for Delimitation of Borders and Agent of the Conciliation Process, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
H.E. Agio Pereira
Chief Negotiatior for the council for the final delimitation of maritime boundaries, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
6 March 2018
Australia and Timor-leste sign historic maritime boundary treaty
Today, in the presence of the UN Secretary-General, Australia and Timor-Leste signed an historic treaty establishing permanent maritime boundaries. This marks the beginning of a new era in the relationship between the two neighbours.
As well as maritime boundaries, the treaty establishes a framework to jointly develop the Greater Sunrise gas fields for the benefit of both countries. It also reflects a partnership between two countries which are bound by geography and deep ties of history and friendship.
The treaty was brokered by the Conciliation Commission established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – the first of its kind.
Both countries demonstrated good will and preparedness to compromise. Although the results of the conciliation process are non-binding, both countries negotiated in good faith in order to achieve a treaty that Timor‑Leste, Australia and the Commission believe is fair, balanced and consistent with international law.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said: “The outcome is a milestone for the parties and for UNCLOS and international law. It reinforces our respect for, and the importance of, the international rules-based order in resolving disputes.”
Timor-Leste’s Minister Agio Pereira said “This treaty marks an historic landmark for Timor-Leste, and for the friendship between Timor-Leste and Australia. Thanks to the strong commitment of the leadership of both countries to this conciliation process, we have arrived at an agreement on maritime boundaries that is equitable, and consistent with international law."
Timor-Leste’s Chief Negotiator Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao said: “History is made today as Timor-Leste signs a treaty on permanent maritime boundaries that establishes, for the first time, a fair border between our two countries, based on international law. We thank the Commission for their patience, wisdom and trust, and the Australian representatives for their constructive engagement and spirit of cooperation. This moment also provides hope for the peaceful resolution of disputes around the world.”
Australia and Timor-Leste both expressed their gratitude to the five eminent Commissioners of the United Nations Conciliation Commission, led by Chair H.E. Ambassador Peter Taksøe-Jensen, for their great dedication and professionalism in helping to forge an agreement.
05 of March of 2018Council of Ministers Meeting of 1st March 2018 and Council of Ministers Extraordinary Meeting of March 5th 2018Approved:more
1. Special Investment Agreement between the Timorese Government and Pelican Paradise Group Limited.
2. Decree-Law for the granting of an extraordinary payment to the members of the Electoral Administration Bodies in Timor-Leste.
3. Government Decree for the granting of an additional payment to officials of the National Press of Timor-Leste I. P.
4. Amendment to Government Decrees No. 19/2017 and 21/2017 on the organization and operation of polling centers and voting procedures, the vote-counting and the calculation of results within the country and abroad.
5. Decree-Law of the first amendment to Decree-Law No. 3/2016 of March 16th, which establishes the Statute of Municipal Administrations, Municipal Authorities and the interministerial Technical Group for Administrative Decentralization.
6. Addendum to the loan agreements concluded between Timor-Leste and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the Tibar-Liquiça and Tibar-Gleno roads.
7. Repeal of Decree-Law No. 37/2016 of September 7th, which established the transitional regime for filling positions of management structure and positions within municipal authorities and municipal administrations during the administrative deconcentration phase.
8. Decree-Law on support to employers under the joining to the contributory social security scheme.
02 of March of 2018Clarification regarding the press release of the 1st march 2018Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Seventh Constitutional Government
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Dili, 2nd March 2018
Press Release
Clarification regarding the Press Release of the 1st March 2018
In regards to the Press Release dated 1st March 2018, entitled “Signing of the Agreement between Timor-Leste and Australia, in New York”, we hereby clarify that, after contacting the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste’s Permanent Mission at the United Nations, in New York, the Government of Australia did not have the intention to make itself represented by its Prime-Minister, Malcom Turnbull, at the signing ceremony of the agreement of delimitation of maritime borders between Timor-Leste and Australia, but by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop. ENDS- 01 of March of 2018Signing of the Agreement between Timor-Leste and Australia, in New YorkPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Seventh Constitutional Government
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Dili, 1st March 2018
Press Release
Signing of the Agreement between Timor-Leste and Australia, in New York
On March 6th, in New York and in the presence of the Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, Timor-Leste and Australia will sign the new treaty on the maritime borders delimitation between the two countries. The agreement will be signed by the current Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister for the Delimitation of Borders, Agio Pereira, on behalf of Timor-Leste and by the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, on behalf of Australia.
Contrary to what was expected the signing ceremony of the agreement will not be attended by the current Prime Minister of Australia, Malcom Turnbull, nor by the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Marí Alkatiri. "The content of the agreement to be signed by Timor-Leste and Australia is related to the maritime border delimitation between the two countries and does not dwell on exploitation aspects of the Greater Sunrise. It has already been officially confirmed that the Prime Minister of Australia will not attend the signing ceremony, therefore it also makes no sense for the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste to travel to New York on March 6th”, as stated by the current leader of the Seventh Constitutional Government.
After signature, the treaty will have to be ratified by the parliaments of Timor-Leste and Australia, coming into effect in the domestic legal framework of both countries. ENDS 
26 of February of 2018Conciliation Commission concludes engagement on development pathway for Greater Sunrise gas fields at final conciliation session with Timor-Leste and AustraliaThe Conciliation Commission held its final set of meetings during the week of 19 February 2018 in Kuala Lumpur with the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (“Timor-Leste”) and the Commonwealth of Australia (“Australia”), as well as with the Greater Sunrise Joint Venture. In keeping with the action plan arising out of the Comprehensive Package Agreement of 30 August 2017 between the governments of Timor-Leste and Australia, the Conciliation Commission presented its conclusions to the two governments, with a view to providing them with an informed basis to take a decision on the development of the shared resource.more
These meetings are part of a structured dialogue in the context of the conciliation between the Timor-Leste and Australia being conducted by a Conciliation Commission pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and under the auspices of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (the “PCA”).
- 22 of February of 2018Audit Requests to the TSAFC Audit ChamberPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Seventh Constitutional Government
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Dili, 21st February 2018
Press Release
Audit Requests to the TSAFC Audit Chamber
This Monday, February 20th 2018, the Prime Minister, Marí Alkatiri, made a formal request for an audit of all financial management operations and accounts of the Treasury, Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications, NDA (National Development Agency), the Infrastructure Fund and the Ministry of Tourism, covering the period between 9th August 2012 and 14th September 2017, which corresponds to the previous legislature.
This request follows the previous request sent on the 6th of February, to carry out a second audit to all financial management operations and accounts of the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno (SAROA), covering the period between 2016 and the present.
In the letters addressed to the President of the Court of Appeal and the Administrative, Fiscal and Accounting High Court, Judge Deolindo dos Santos, the Prime Minister justified the audit requests by stating that "the country's management must be guided, at all times, by principles of rigor, transparency and accountability. Without exceptions. It is therefore necessary to ensure transparency in the Public Administration, promoting a culture of rigor and accountability in the management of the State's financial resources. " ENDS
