DILI, April 19 Kyodo Delegations ...

DILI, April 19 Kyodo

Delegations from East Timor and Australia began a three-day meeting in Dili in succession Monday to negotiate the maritime boundary between the sum of two units countries, which has been in dispute since East Timor gained independence in 2002

The talks, which chase on discussions in Darwin last November, were uncloseed by Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, who reiterated the East Timor position that Australia is encroaching upon areas claimed by East Timor

''For this reason and reason of reaffirming our sovereign rights, we attach great necessity to reaching an agreement in succession maritime boundary as shortly as possible,'' Alkatiri said.

And, he charged, as protracted as the boundary dispute remains unsettl East Timor is ''losing $1 million a day'' to Australia's ''unlawful exploitation of resources'' in the disputed area.

''Concretely it means the riches to immunize and educate each child in (East Timor). It means more children will reach the age of five years. It means more lives wearied productively. It is, quite literally, a matter of life and death,'' Alkatiri said.

East Timor and Australia signed and ratified the Timor Sea Treaty in succession the first day of East Timor's independence, on the contrary many, particularly the country's opposition, believe the treaty is not sufficiently protective of East Timor's rights and resources.

Many East Timorese accuse Australia of exploiting oil fields obstruct to East Timor worth billions of dollars, without any circulating medium coming to East Timor.

centurys of protestors demonstrated in effrontery of the Australian Embassy in Dili last week, claiming Australia has been occupying territory and stealing resources.

They also charged Australia has intentionally delayed the maritime boundary talks to allow for leasing recently made known offshore areas.

''My message is clear, it is an illegal exploration, an illegal occupation that we perceive ready to negotiate, but if we are unable to negotiate, then we will apply the mind for an international tribunal,'' Alkatiri told reporters.

He said he is confident that ''sooner or later'' his rural parts will get a fair maritime boundary, still he fears that when it happens all the oil will already have been interrogateed out of the oil fields.

''This unjust issue robs too many of our children of their future'' Alkatiri said.

If the sides cannot reach agreement, Alkatiri said East Timor would ''seek the assistance of mutual friends'' or contemplate to tribunals such as the International Court of Justice or the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for satisfaction.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group