Miranda advises on sea treaty between Timor-Leste and Australia

A team from Miranda & Associados advised on the drafting of the treaty between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and Australia, which establishes the two countries maritime borders in the Timor Sea.

The treaty came into force today with an exchange of diplomatic notes between the Prime Ministers of Timor-Leste and Australia in front of the Government Palace in Dili, the capital of East Timor.

The exchange of notes was organised to coincide with the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the popular consultation that led to the restoration of Timor-Leste’s independence. In a related development, the exchange of notes was preceded earlier this week by the signing of six production sharing agreements “to carry over the previous oil projects in the Joint Petroleum Development Area and Australia for the exclusive jurisdiction of Timor-Leste”, a Miranda statement said.

The team from Miranda & Associados included Maria Figueiredo, Joao Leite, Ines Frutuoso de Melo, and Ricardo Silva. The team spent the last 18 months engaged in the process of negotiating the so-called “transitional agreements”.

Commenting on the ratification of the treaty, Silva (pictured) said: “The entry into force of this historic treaty was preceded by the negotiation between Timor-Leste, Australia, and the oil companies with a wide range of contracts and legislation, including the six production sharing contracts, two laws of the National Parliament, and four Decree-Laws, among other instruments necessary for the exchange of notes to take place.

“Following the intervention of a Miranda team in the mandatory conciliation process between the two states and in the negotiation and drafting of the Treaty, this was the last step left to realise the dream of the Timorese state and people of delimiting their maritime borders with Australia in the Timor Sea. Miranda’s history is intertwined with the struggle of the Timorese people for political, territorial and economic independence over the years. We are very proud to have participated in this process that involved several colleagues from different areas of the firm.”

Ben Cook

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