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Dili, April 11th, 2017
Press Release
Council of Ministers meeting of April 11th, 2017
The Council of Ministers met on Tuesday at the Government Palace in Dili, and approved the proposals of the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications for ratification of three conventions on the Law of the Sea, to send to the National Parliament. They are: the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, of November 1st, 1974 (SOLAS Convention); the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (MARPOL); and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW78).
The report of the findings on the investigation into alleged illegal fishing, by a foreign company, in Timorese territory, was presented to the Council of Ministers by the inter-ministerial team created by Prime Ministerial order. Following the presentation of the report’s recommendations, others were proposed by various ministries in the meeting, which will all be included in the text, for later deliberation. The investigation was carried out by officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Police (PNTL), the Maritime Police, the Department of Migration, the naval component of the Defence Forces (F-FDTL) and from Customs, led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The Minister of State, coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries informed the Council of Ministers on the contents of three agreements to be signed with the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO): Building and Disaster Risk Reduction Planning in Communities Most Affected by Drought; Enabling Transboundary Cooperation for Sustainable Management of the Indonesian Seas; and Preparatory Assistance for the First Timor-Leste Agriculture Census.
The Ministry of Health presented a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the National University of Fiji regarding the development of human resource capacity in the area of health which will involve the attendance of Timorese students at the University.
The Secretary of State for Youth and Sports and Timor-Leste’s Amateur Football League presented a project for the construction of 8 football stadiums, with international quality, under its policy of supporting the development of sporting activity in the country.
The University of Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) presented a proposal to appoint 4 members to join its General Council until 2021. Of the 15 members that make up the General Council of the UNTL it is incumbent upon the Council of Ministers to appoint 4, one being a member of the Government and three being representatives of Civil Society. The proposal will be reviewed by the Council of Ministers, after analysis of the candidates’ profile by the Ministry of Education. ENDS