The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs said this year a technical team from Ministry of Foreign Affairs will measure the Timor Sea.

The objective of measuring the Timor Sea, according to the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, is to find out exact the confines of the sea ground.

"The sea surrounds us, so we must measure it according to our international rights," said Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Constancio da Conceicao Pinto, in National Parliament, (15/02).

About the size of the Timor Sea, he said, "I have no idea how to respond, it's only the technical staff that could respond that."

Meanwhile MP Cesar Valente de Jesus said this issue needs attention because the Timor Sea is a part of Timor-Leste sovereignty. "It needs to be measured because many of our mineral resources are still inside the sea," said the MP.

Besides that MP Estanislau da Silva said a deal was signed between Timor-Leste's government and the Australian government a few years ago to connect the pipeline to Timor-Leste, so they would not speak more about the maritime border.

"We have a deal with the Australian government that for 50 years we will not discus the maritime border," said the MP. He said according to international maritime law of there is a line between Timor-Leste and Australia.