East Timor's Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, has announced (on Friday 9 December, 2005) that a resource sharing agreement has been reached between East Timor and Australia.

The deal on how to share the Greater Sunrise gas field, worth an estimated $40 billion in Government 'royalties' is expected be signed on the 12th January 2006 in Sydney by the Foreign Affairs ministers of both countries, in the presence of both Prime Ministers

According to Alkatiri, the agreement is without prejudice to the positions and claims of both countries in respect of maritime boundaries.

"Timor-Leste has not compromised its legal claim and legal position in respect of the question of maritime boundaries. This agreement takes account of the essential interests of both Timor-Leste and Australia." Mr Alkatiri said.

The Timor Sea Justice Campaign claims the deal is an improvement on the current situation, but believes it still falls short of East Timor's likely entitlements under International Law.

Campaign coordinator, Tom Clarke, is pleased that the Australian Government has slowly shifted is position over the last two years due to the growing pressure from the Australian public and NGOs.

"The Australian Government has been told by the public to pull its head in, to acknowledge principles of current International Law, and to give East Timor a fair go. The Timor Sea Justice Campaign would like to thank everyone that has helped force the Howard Government to shift its position, " Mr Clarke said.

However, while the deal will be an improvement on current situation, the Timor Sea Justice Campaign claims the Australian Government's greed and self-interest has resulted in a short-sighted arrangement.

"This deal is really just a band-aid solution for one particular gas field. If more petroleum resources are discovered tomorrow, it will be back to square one. Only permanent maritime boundaries will provide legal certainty to both governments and commercial interests.

The deal also fails to address the $2 billion that the Australian Government has unilaterally depleted from the contested Laminaria Corallina fileds since 1999." Mr Clarke said.

The campaign is continuing to call for Alexander Downer to 'finish the job'. It is urging the Australian Government to establish a permanent maritime boundary with East Timor along the median line, half way between the two countries.

"These issues of boundaries are integral to the process of self-determination and achieving true independence, so until the East Timorese enjoy just and fair borders, their struggle will continue and their many supporters in Australia will be here to help," Mr Clarke said.

[No title in original posting, title used chosen by ASAP - James Balowski.]