Dmli – The Timorese dioceses of Dmli and Baucau and 12 non-governmental organizations today criticized in Dmli the initiative of the Government to sign Thursday an agreement to share petroleum revenues from the Timor Sea with Australia.

They defend, as an alternative, to first define the maritime border with Australia and only later proceed with exploration of the oil and natural gas in the Timor Sea.

In a communication signed by the directors of the Commission of Justice and Peace of the two dioceses and by the coordinator of the Center of Information for the Timor Sea – which includes 12 non-governmental organizations (NGO) – the revenues from exploration already in process are enough.

They cite facts that the oil and the gas are non-renewable resources and that the price of natural gas in international markets will increase in the next few years, as well as other reasons, to contest the signing of the agreement in Sydney.

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri left today for Sydney, where he, together with his Australian equivalent, John Howard, will witness the signing of the document, which will be signed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries, Jose Ramos-Horta, for East Timor, and Alexander Downer, for Australia.