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Timor Sea arrangement, negotiated by UN, approved by East Timor cabinet

Timor Sea arrangement, negotiated by UN, approved by East Timor cabinet

An Arrangement between the East Timor Transitional Administration and the Australian Government was approved today, giving East Timor 90 per cent of the revenues from the oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) said on Tuesday.

The East Timor Transitional Cabinet endorsed the Arrangement, which was negotiated between the Transitional Administration, on behalf of East Timor, and the Government of Australia, since March 2000.

"This is a good agreement for East Timor, but it is also the starting point of good co-operation between East Timor and Australia at all levels," said Cabinet Member for Economic Affairs Mari Alkatiri, who had been one of the lead negotiators.

"This is the very first time the United Nations has participated in negotiating a treaty on behalf of a country," added Peter Galbraith, Cabinet Member for Political Affairs and Timor Sea, who also took part in the negotiations. Before coming into force, the Arrangement must be approved by the elected government of East Timor in accordance with its Constitutional processes.

Today also marked the beginning of the first trial for crimes against humanity in East Timor. According to UNTAET, the trial, which concerns the Lospalos massacre in 1999, involves 11 people, most of whom were members of a pro-autonomy militia. They stand accused of committing murder, torture, deportation and the forcible transfer of civilians.

Meanwhile, on the second day of her visit to East Timor, UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette was in Baucau and Aileu today. In Baucau, she and UNTAET chief Sergio Vieira de Mello participated in an Open Dialogue on Civic Education attended by some 500 Timorese.

The Civic Education programme aims at encouraging the Timorese to participate in the political process. "This is your process," said Mr. Vieira de Mello. "An informed people can not be manipulated."