Timor-Leste’s President Taur Matan Ruak used his Independence Day speech to press the Australian government to end the stand-off over negotiations on the demarcation of maritime boundaries between the two countries.
While acknowledging the friendship that existed between the nations, Ruak said a resolution to the contentious issue was vital to strengthening bilateral relations in the future.
“The Timorese and Australian peoples maintain extensive exchanges at every level,” the president said in his official address at Gleno, Ermera on May 20.
“Let us not allow the issue of the borders in the Timor Sea continue to be postponed and affect relations developed by our peoples since at least the time when we fought together in World War II and in other key moments of the past 70 years.”
He said the establishment of permanent maritime boundaries in the oil-rich Timor Sea represented an important step in consolidating Timor-Leste’s sovereignty as an independent state and was supported by the law and the wider international community.
“I call on the Australian government to meet the natural and legitimate aspirations of Timor-Leste and open negotiations on the demarcation of the maritime borders between two neighbors who care for each other,” he said.
The president also thanked those Australians who had supported Timor-Leste’s campaign and called on the Australian government to take steps to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
“The Timorese look forward to positive actions by the government of Australia,” he said.
Timor-Leste maintains that existing treaties signed in 2002 and 2006 with Australia are unfair and that the country has missed out on billions of dollars in offshore oil and gas revenues under the current arrangements.
In March, an estimated 10,000 people joined a two-day protest outside the Australian embassy in Dili, calling on Australia to negotiate in good faith on the establishment of a permanent maritime boundary in the Timor Sea.
The following month Timor-Leste announced it was taking Australia to the United Nations to initiate formal conciliation proceedings by an independent panel of experts.
Former First Lady Kirsty Sword Gusmao, who was in attendance at the official ceremony in Gleno where she received a Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste awarded last year, said she remained hopeful the Australia government would soften its stance.
“I think the maritime boundary issue is one that cannot be ignored in any context, it’s obviously vital for Timor-Leste’s future and its economic security,” she told The Dili Weekly.
“Personally I’m very hopeful that there will be a change in policy and a willingness to sit down and at least negotiate in good faith on this issue.”
Seven Australians and organizations were among those honored at this year’s official celebrations in recognition of their important contribution to Timor-Leste.
