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UNMISET Daily Press Review

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international sources

Daily Media Review Tuesday, 18 January 2005

Alkatiri: Australia and Timor set to resume border talks in March

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has announced that Australia and Timor-Leste are set to resume talks aimed at resolving the dispute over the maritime boundary between the two countries in March. Yesterday, the Australian Government invited Timor-Leste to resume negotiations, suggesting the talks take place in the first quarter of this year. However, a spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said whilst Australia has invited Timor-Leste to further discussions, she indicated that Canberra has not changed its view on the boundary and was awaiting a “creative solution” from the Timorese. In response, Prime Minister Alkatiri’s office said Timor-Leste has always shown a willingness to negotiate and would look at every option that could resolve the boundary dispute. According to Lusa news agency, the talks will take place in Canberra.

Australia and Timor-Leste have so far failed to reach agreement on how best to divide the estimated $AUS41 billion worth of oil and gas deposits lying beneath the Timor Sea. Talks broke down late last year when Timor-Leste accused Australia of making an ultimatum on the boundary terms. Dili wants the boundary mid-point between the two countries. Canberra maintains it should be at the edge of the continental shelf, much closer to Timor-Leste. (The Australian, Lusa, AAP)

Mari Alkatiri: Mauritius’ Experience Is Important For Timor-Leste’s Development

Upon his return, after participating in a conference on development held recently in Mauritius, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said that it is important to observe developments in Mauritius in order to further develop Timor-Leste.

“We cannot merely copy Mauritius’ model. The secret of Mauritius’ success is only one, that is investment in the education sector as a priority for preparing human resources as fundamental for development,” said Alkatiri. He added that the conference aimed to observe how small countries carry out development with international assistance and how they deal with natural disasters such as tsunamis. (STL)

Ramos-Horta: The World Is Pleased With Timor-Leste’s Assistance to Tsunami Victims

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Ramos-Horta, said that the world was pleased with the assistance provided by the people and the government of Timor-Leste to tsunami victims in Indonesia and other Asian countries. “As you know the recent meeting in Jakarta was to secure rich countries’ commitment to assist tsunami victims in Aceh. Timor-Leste was the only poor country invited by Indonesia along with other rich countries such as Japan, United States and others to attend the meeting,” said Ramos-Horta.

Moreover, Ramos-Horta said the solidarity gesture shown by Timor-Leste in helping the victims was a spontaneous one, adding that Timor-Leste itself is a poor country but its assistance provided, compared to other rich countries, was the highest. This, he said, showed that not only rich countries had the solidarity for the victims but also the small and poor countries like Timor-Leste. “This is a politically symbolic act of Timor-Leste to help others who are suffering because of natural disasters,” Ramos Horta further explained. (STL)

National Parliament Will Propose New Candidates for Provedor

National Parliament’s President Francisco Guterres “Lu-Olo” announced that the Parliament would soon propose new candidates for Human Rights Provedor. This, he said, has to do with the fact that the law on the Provedor has already been approved but not implemented. “The Parliament and I are particularly concerned with the matter. In the next week or so, we will present new candidates for the post. Some have thought of presenting them. I will soon send a letter to all heads of party benches, asking them to prepare the candidates for the new election of Provedor,” Lu-Olo explained. (STL)

Rui Menezes: Timor-Leste’s Economy Will Shaken After UNMISET Concludes Its Mission

Member of National Parliament’s Commission C in charge of Economy and Finance Rui Menezes told the media yesterday that Timor-Leste’s economy would be shaken after UNMISET concludes its mission.

Morever, Menezes said in anticipating such a situation, the Government is expected to conduct some preventive measures in order to avoid social unrest. “If the Government continues to be silent on this, I am afraid there will be some negative impacts on the people,” said Menezes. According to Menezes, the main impact which would affect Timor-Leste would be in the aspect of assistance of development partners, adding that for the last two years when the constitutional Government runs its administration, UNMISET plays a significant role in consolidating all the assistance to Timor-Leste. (STL)

Parliament Approved the Law on Council of State

National Parliament yesterday approved the law on the Council of State, with 61 votes in favour and 5 abstentions. Vice President Jacob Fernandes said that the law would soon be applied. (STL)

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