Venidora Oliveira – The Prime Minister (PM) Dr. Rui Maria de Araujo said during the launch of the Timorese government's website on maritime boundaries for Timor-Leste that this is another medium that will help the country achieve its permanent maritime boundaries.
The head of government added that this comprehensive online platform was launched because "this is one of our priorities, to be clear on where we stand in regards to our maritime and land boundaries according to existing international law."
PM Araujo made the statements during a ceremony to launch the website on maritime boundaries for Timor-Leste on 29 February 2016 at the Government Palace in Dili. He added that even though Timor-Leste shares a maritime area with Indonesia and Australia that until now it does not have permanent maritime boundaries with both nations.
The PM said also that establishing permanent maritime boundaries is a matter of national priority for Timor-Leste and represent the final phase of the nation's struggle for sovereignty and national independence.
Meanwhile the Executive Director of organization Luta Hamutuk (LH) Mericio Akara, urged the government to utilize the website to convince the Australian government to resolve the issue of maritime boundaries in the Timor Sea.
"The team working on this portal, can utilize this data and design strategies to convince Australia to talk about maritime boundaries," said Director Akara.
He added that the launch of the new website represents a positive step in that communities will be able to access information on the process of negotiations with the Indonesian and Australian governments in regards to Timor's maritime boundaries.