Media Releases
10 of Outubro of 2018Meeting of the Council of Ministers of October 10, 2018Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of October 10, 2018
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and analyzed the presentation by the Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agustinho da Silva, on the project for maritime transport along the north coast of Timor-Leste. This project results from the cooperation between the East Timorese Government and the German Government, initiated in 2004, for the development of maritime transport and maritime infrastructures. The main component of this project will be the construction of a new passenger ship for the maritime connection of the entire northern coast. The project also includes, with the support of the Government of Japan, the construction of a new passenger terminal in Dili and the rehabilitation of the infrastructures of the terminals of Oe-cusse and Ataúro.
The Minister of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, presented the proposal, approved by the Government, of the Decree-Law on the organic of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM), a central government department whose mission is to provide support the Council of Ministers and the Prime Minister, to promote interministerial coordination of the Government, as well as the legislative procedure of the Government. The new structure of the PCM is necessary following the creation of the Ministry of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs, which inherited some of the roles that belonged to PCM, but also from the experience of more than ten years with the previous structure, which warrants, in some situations, to seek to simplify services by eliminating some intermediary structures that prove to be unnecessary, but also to go further, by providing new services that lead to a better and more efficient functioning of the Government for the benefit of the population. It also seeks to improve services provided by PCM, especially to other ministries, as the PCM is, by its nature, an instrumental ministry, which provides services to other ministries.
The Government approved the proposal for a Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, on the organic law of the Ministry of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs, a governmental entity responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, concerning the development, harmonization and consolidation of the legal system, judicial reform, parliamentary affairs and the media.
The Minister of Transport and Communications presented the proposal for a Decree-Law relating to the first amendment to the Decree-Law that approved the civil aviation bases law. The Decree-Law approved by the Council of Ministers determines that the classification of international airport will now be carried out through a Government Resolution, based on a proposal of the member of the Government responsible for transport.
The Council of Ministers also approved a resolution of the Government concerning the attribution of the name "hinode-bashi" which means sunrise bridge in Japanese, the third bridge over the Comoro river, whose design and construction was donated by the Government and People of Japan.
Members of the Government signed the second phase of the Maubisse Declaration on the package of measures to ensure the principles of inclusion, tolerance and gender equality. This set of measures, foreseen in the National Strategic Development Plan and reflected in the Eight Constitutional Government Program, represent government action across the entire Executive to strengthen the capacity and socio-economic power of women and people with disabilities.
The Council of Ministers approved the Government Resolution on the donation to the Republic of Indonesia for support in the response to the destruction caused by the earthquake with a magnitude 7.5 on the Richter scale and the tsunami that hit the island of Sulawesi on 28 September of 2018. The Government approved the amount of US $ 750,000 to support the response to existing needs after the destruction cause by the earthquake and the tsunami that followed.
Finally, the Council of Ministers approved the Government's Resolution to approve a contract for the acquisition of participatory interests and rights in the Greater Sunrise field, Timor-Leste's participation in oil operations and transfer of said participatory interests and rights to Timor Gap, EP or its subsidiaries for hold and management thereof in the name and on behalf of the State of Timor-Leste. ENDS
03 of Outubro of 2018Meeting of the Council of Ministers of October 3, 2018Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of October 3, 2018
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and discussed the presentation by the President of the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA) and Special Zones for the Social Market Economy of Timor-Leste (ZEESM TL), Dr. Marí Bin Amude Alkatiri. The President of RAEOA and the ZEESM presented to the Council of Ministers the budgetary results since 2015, the budget proposal for 2019 and the current situation of the projects. Since 2015, 182 projects were developed in coordination with the central government, including the construction of the airport, roads, bridges and irrigation systems.
The Government also reviewed the presentation on the "Development Plan for a Sustainable Economy of Marine Ecotourism in Timor-Leste". This plan presents a proposal to transform Timor-Leste so that it becomes a reference in dive tourism and whale watching in Southeast Asia. The development plan for a sustainable marine eco-tourism economy in Timor-Leste aims to provide the necessary research and media coverage to place Timor-Leste on the global eco-tourism map. It also aims to help create the necessary logistics and infrastructures for the protection and conservation of all marine life.
The Council of Ministers approved the Government's Resolution proposed by the Ministry of State Administration for the creation of the Guinea-Bissau Electoral Registration Support Mission (MAPRE-GB 2018) for the elections on 18 November 2018. The creation of MAPRE-GB 2018 follows a request by Guinea/Bissau to support the organization and implementation of the electoral registry, recognizing the important contribution that the two East Timorese missions in support of the electoral processes of Guinea-Bissau, established in 2013 and 2014, provided for the holding of free and fair elections in this country. MAPRE-GB 2018 will provide technical assistance and human resources training for the Guinea-Bissau electoral management bodies and promote the technological requirements for electoral registration operations. The approved Government Resolution appoints Tomás do Rosário Cabral to the post of Chief of MAPRE-GB 2018 and defines the budgetary limits of the mission.
The Government approved the proposal for a Government Decree, presented by the Acting Minister of Finance, Sara Lobo Brites, on the implementation of the General State Budget (OGE) for 2018. This decree approves the rules and procedures for implementation, monitoring and reporting requirements for the State and Social Security Budgets for the year 2018, essential for a rigorous and adequate monitoring of budget execution, as a decisive instrument for the full compliance with the principles and guidelines established by the OGE for 2018. The entry into force of the OGE for 2018 allows for the return to normality of budget execution, allowing to respond to the priority needs, to favor the resumption of economic growth, to provide conditions for the installation of the Eight Constitutional Government and, above all, to lay the foundations for the implementation of the governance program.
The Council of Ministers approved the proposal for a Decree-Law on the Organic Law of the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, a governmental entity with responsibilities in the design, execution, implementation, evaluation and follow-up of the policy defined and approved by the Government for energy, oil, gas and mineral resources. The approval of the respective organic law intends to provide this Ministry with a dynamic and efficient structure, capable of meeting the ever-increasing technical requirements of these activities and, thus, to exercise adequate guidance and control, including environmental licensing.
Also approved at the meeting of the Council of Ministers was the proposal for a Decree-Law on the Organic Law of the Ministry of National Liberation Combatants Affairs, in order to provide the Ministry with a structure of organization and function that allows the pursuit of its attributions with gains in efficiency in the management of existing human resources and services. The Ministry of National Liberation Combatants Affairs has as its mission to design, implement, coordinate and evaluate the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, in the areas of national liberation combatants, recognizing and valuing, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, the secular resistance of the Maubere People against foreign domination and the State's responsibility to ensure special protection for all those who participated in resistance to foreign occupation.
The Council of Ministers approved the proposal for a Government Resolution on the Appointment of Members of the Political Review Committee of the 2019 Budget to verify the strategic allocation of resources in order to achieve the commitments and objectives contained in the strategic documents and to assess the feasibility of the plans for the financial year 2019, for the preparation of the proposal of the State Budget to be submitted to the National Parliament by November 8, 2018. The Committee has as President the Prime Minister, as Vice-President the Acting Minister of Finance, and as members the Minister of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Acting Minister for Planning and Strategic Investment, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Minister for Public Works and the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, and as observers the Minister of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs and the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion. ENDS
02 of Outubro of 2018ConocoPhillips and Government of Timor-Leste agree on terms for sale of interest in Greater Sunrise FieldsGOVERNMENT OF TIMOR-LESTE AND CONOCOPHILLIPSmore
JOINT NEWS RELEASE
02 OCT 2018
ConocoPhillips and Government of Timor-Leste agree on terms for sale of interest in Greater Sunrise Fields
Perth/Dili –The Government of Timor-Leste and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) have reached agreement on terms for the sale of ConocoPhillips’ 30 percent interest in the Greater Sunrise Fields.
The Prime Minister of Timor-Leste congratulated the Parties on successfully reaching an agreement which benefits both Parties and is expected to allow Timor-Leste to proceed with discussions with the other Greater Sunrise Joint Venture members on the future development of the Greater Sunrise resources.
Timor-Leste’s Special Representative, Xanana Gusmão, stated that “ConocoPhillips and the other Joint Venture partners have always known Timor-Leste’s preference for the development of Greater Sunrise through a pipeline to Beaço on the South Coast of Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste looks forward to working with the other joint venture members to successfully develop the project.”
The Government’s purchase of ConocoPhillips’ interest is conditional on receiving funding approval from the Timor-Leste Council of Ministers and National Parliament, as well as regulatory approvals and partner pre-emption rights.
ConocoPhillips’ Australia-West President, Chris Wilson, said the decision to sell the interest followed an approach from the Timor-Leste Government.
“We respect the Timor-Leste Government’s preference to develop the Sunrise fields through a new greenfield, Timor-Leste based LNG facility. While we differ on the proposed economic development option, we recognise the importance of Sunrise to the Nation of Timor-Leste and hope the sale of our interest to the Government allows them to progress their vision for the development of Sunrise,” Mr Wilson said.
“We are proud of our important contribution to Timor-Leste’s development and our relationship with the Government, which will continue through our interest in, and operatorship of, the Bayu-Undan Field. The negotiated sale price of approximately $US350 million essentially recovers the costs incurred by ConocoPhillips in connection with the Greater Sunrise Fields.”
The sale transaction covers ConocoPhillips’ interest in Production Sharing Contracts 03-19 and 03-20 and Retention Leases NT/RL2 and NT/RL4. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.
The Sunrise and Troubadour gas and condensate fields, collectively known as the Greater Sunrise fields, are located approximately 150 kilometres south east of Timor-Leste and 450 kilometres north west of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory.
The current Sunrise joint venture partners are Woodside (operator) with a 33.4% interest, ConocoPhillips (30%), Shell (26.6%) and Osaka Gas (10%).
The Government of Timor-Leste was advised by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Miranda & Associados and ConocoPhillips was advised by Herbert Smith Freehills.
Media Contacts
Michael Marren
+61 8 636 32644 (office)
+61 477 739 478 (mobile/cell)
Michael.A.Marren@conocophillips.com
Jose Lobato (for Tetum or Portuguese speaking media)
+61 8 6363 4001 (office)
+61 670 723 085 (mobile/cell)
jose.lobato@conocophillips.com
Agio Pereira
+670 77045002
pcm.gov.tl@mail.com
govtlmedia@gmail.com
www.timor-leste.gov.tl
02 of Outubro of 2018Government expresses its solidarity with IndonesiaPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Government expresses its solidarity with Indonesia
On behalf of the people of Timor-Leste, the Government sends its condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the earthquake that culminated in a tsunami in Palu on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday 28 September. The Government also expresses its solidarity with the Government and people of Indonesia, who are facing the effects of this catastrophe.
The Palu region is the closest and most affected by the earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter scale, and by the tsunami triggered by this strong earthquake.
The region was partially devastated by the earthquake and tsunami that followed, affecting hundreds of thousands of people and causing a great number of casualties, wounded and missing. Rescue teams are still searching for survivors.
The Government of Timor-Leste commends the efforts of the authorities in search and rescue actions in conditions of extreme difficulty. END
26 of September of 2018Meeting of the Council of Ministers of September 26st, 2018Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of September 26st, 2018
The Council of Ministers met in the Government Palace in Dili and analyzed the presentation of the Minister of State of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, regarding the state of play of the negotiations for the resolution of technical issues with a view to ratification of the Timor Sea Treaty.
Government members discussed issues relating to the state budget for 2019, following last week's approval of the fiscal limit of the budget and distribution made yesterday by the Ministry of Finance of the fiscal envelope of all ministerial lines. The acting Minister of Finance, Sara Lobo Brites, called on all Ministers to respect the fiscal limit approved in the budget planning of each Ministry.
The Council of Ministers also discussed the difficulties imposed by the duodecimal regime, namely the difficult situation regarding the supply of fuel for electricity, as the budget for fiscal year 2018 is still awaiting promulgation by the President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres Llo Olo.
Finally, the Minister for Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs, Fidelis Magalhães, presented to the Council of Ministers information and results of the BNCTL General Assembly, of which the State is a shareholder. BNCTL's profits for the year 2017 were evaluated and the Bank's capitalization proposal for capital reinforcement was evaluated, allowing the BNCTL to be ready to face any financial situation and to further expand its products to become more attractive to the population. Also discussed was the proposal to allocate to the BNCTL the state real estate currently used by the Bank, so that they become BNCTL assets. ENDS
21 of September of 2018Meeting of the Council of Ministers of September 21st, 2018Approved:more
1 - Continuation of the duodecimal regime during the month of September
2 - Budget limit for fiscal year 2019
3 - Authorization to the Minister of Defense to sign the agreement between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Government of Japan
4 - Remuneration supplement for officials and agents of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport working on the implementation of national tests and exams
Analyzed
1 - Exchange agreement between the Government of the Democratic Republic of -Timor-Leste and the Government of Japan
2 - Report of Timor-Leste's exploratory support mission to the elections of November 18, 2018, in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau
07 of September of 2018Government congratulates the new Prime-Minister of AustraliaPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Government congratulates the new Prime Minister of Australia
The Government of Timor-Leste congratulates Scott John Morrison on his nomination as Prime Minister of Australia and wishes the greatest successes in the performance of his noble functions.
Timor-Leste and Australia share a historic and special bond that unites both peoples since World War II, and which we will reinforce with the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Mission of INTERFET, scheduled for 2019.
We also share common interests in favor of peace, stability, security, development and progress and Australia is now our greatest partner in the effort to consolidate a secure, healthy, prosperous and resilient Democratic Rule of Law.
With our recent success in the ratification of the Treaty on Maritime Borders, a great example was given to the World and a renewed impetus for strengthening our ties of trust and fraternal friendship.
Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak in his letter of congratulations to the new Prime Minister of Australia said he had "great hope that, with the support of Scott John Morrison, good results can be achieved in the ongoing negotiations on the resources of the Greater Sunrise in order to maximize its benefits in favor of the population and the economic development of Timor-Leste".
Taur Matan Ruak also expressed his "strong desire to continue strengthening the close ties of friendship, solidarity and cooperation that unite the two countries," expressing the "honor and privilege" of welcoming a visit of the Australian Prime Minister to Timor-Leste. ENDS
27 of August of 2018Government expresses condolences for the death of Keith HayesPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Government expresses condolences for the death of Keith Hayes
It was with great sadness that the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste received the news of the death of Mr. Keith Hayes, an Australian veteran and survivor of World War II.
Keith Hayes, after being injured in battle in Timor-Leste during World War II, was rescued by a Timorese family, marking the beginning of a great friendship with our people that lasted for the rest of his life.
While Keith showed remarkable courage as a commando during war, on his return to Australia he continued to fight. It was with deep empathy and care that he actively supported the Timorese people including in our struggle for freedom and independence as well as our endeavours to develop our new nation. This lifelong support was a shining light in the relationship between our countries and showed us all the possibilities of solidarity between our peoples. We held his friendship dear to our hearts and we mourn the passing of a truly great Australian.
Keith will always have an important place in the history of our country and our relationship with Australia. While he was both humble and unassuming, his courage, integrity and determination to fight for human dignity and for the Timorese people will not be forgotten. At this time of sadness we both mourn his passing and celebrate his contribution.
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, on behalf of the Timorese People, offers condolences to the family of Keith Hayes and give thanks from a grateful nation. ENDS
