JOINT STATEMENT
SECOND MEETING OF THE INDONESIA-TIMOR-LESTE
JOINT MINISTERIAL COMMISSION FOR BILATERAL COOPERATION

DiIi, 4-6 September 2003

1. The second meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste was held in Dili on 4-6 September 2003. The delegation of the Government of the Republic Indonesia was headed by H.E. Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the delegation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste was headed by H.E. Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, Senior Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the DRTL.

2. The Timor-Leste delegation expressed its deep gratitude for the historic visit and warm welcome accorded to the Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Mari Alkatiri, during his first visit to the Republic of Indonesia, June 2003.

3. The Government of Timor-Leste expressed its satisfaction on the appointment of its first ambassador to Indonesia and expressed the hope that the Government of the Republic of Indonesia would soon appoint its ambassador to Timor-Leste.

4. Both Parties recalled the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation of 2 July 2002 and the Joint Statement of the First Joint Ministerial Meeting taking place in Jakarta on 7-8 October 2002.

5. Both Parties emphasized the importance of good relationship between the two countries in solving the residual issues as well as in facing the rapid development and changes in international relations through various mechanism, among others, the Joint Ministerial Commission.

6. Both Parties appreciated the regional meetings in combating transnational crimes including terrorism. Both Parties also recalled the success of the second trilateral meeting of Indonesia, Australia and Timor-Leste.

   BORDER MATTERS

7. Both parties recognize that the delineation of the land border is almost completed and appreciate that any outstanding issues, particularly in Oecussi, can be easily resolved. The parties endorse the preliminary agreements reached by the joint border survey and the Technical Subcommittee on Border Demarcation and Regulation. Both parties instruct the Joint Border Committee to finalize agreement on the international boundary in accordance with the 1904-Treaty and the 1914-Arbitral Award by 30 November 2003.

8. The Parties explored ideas concerning the establishment of a free trade zone straddling two sides of the border. The two parties also explored ideas concerning tri-Iateral cooperation involving Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Australia, in particular, focusing on enhancing economic, trade, tourism, cultural and sports exchange between Timor-Leste Eastern Indonesia and Northern Australia.

9. Both parties agreed to discuss a maritime boundary delimitation issues after finalization of agreement on the land border.

10. Both Parties welcomed the forthcoming signing of the Communications Arrangement between the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia and the National Police of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste by their respective Police Commissioners at a mutually agreed upon time.

11. Both Parties agreed to sign the new version of the Provisional Technical Arrangement on the Coordination of the Measure to Facilitate the Movement of People and Their Personal Effects between the Enclave of Oecussi and Other Parts of East Timor during the forthcoming Joint Border Committee.

    LEGAL MATTERS

12. Both Parties expressed its satisfaction with the recognition of the principle of international law that private individuals and corporations should have their legal rights duly recognized.

13. The Government of Indonesia requested the Government of the Democratic Timor-Leste to consider extending the period provided in the property law to claim the property belonging to Indonesian citizens.

14. Taking note of the complexity of the matters pertaining to assets, both Parties agreed to consider establishing an institutional framework to further deliberate the matters aimed at finding acceptable and comprehensive solution.

15. Indonesian Delegation expressed its satisfaction that its citizens may file their land claims in Timor-Leste through the Embassy of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in Jakarta.

    TRADE, INVESTMENT AND FINANCE MATTERS

16. Both Parties agreed to further the discussion on the development of trade agreement that was first introduced at the First Joint Ministerial Commission in Jakarta, 7-8 October 2002.

17. Both Parties took note with satisfaction the readiness of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to provide capacity building in small and medium enterprises, costumes cooperation, statistic cooperation as well as investment cooperation.

18. Taking note the interests of the Indonesian investors to invest in Timor­-Leste, both Parties agreed to enhance investment cooperation.

19. Both Parties expressed satisfaction on the opening and operation of Bank Mandiri since 8 August 2003 and emphasized the needs to further solve the remaining issues at the earliest opportunity.

    TRANSPORT AND TELECOMMUNICATION MATTERS

20. Both Parties discussed on the enhancement of bilateral air transport and concluded that a technical meeting should be held tentatively in October 2003.

21. Both Parties took note the need to renew the existing Arrangement on Postal Services Cooperation and concluded that a technical meeting should also be held tentatively in October 2003.

22. Both Parties explored the possibility of having bilateral cooperation on search and rescue and of embarking on cooperation on telecommunication, including coordination on the use of radio frequencies.

    SOCIAL, EDUCATION AND CULTURAL MATTERS

23. The Government of Timor-Leste welcomed the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to open a cultural center including a library in Dili and will extend its fullest cooperation to establish this center.

24. Both Parties reiterated the commitment to promote cooperation on archives and expressed its satisfaction on the readiness of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to grant access to Indonesian archives as well as to provide assistance in the establishment of the National Archives of Timor­-Leste.

25. Both Parties agreed to enhance cooperation in questions of national heritage, cultural artifacts, religious monuments and places of worship in Timor-Leste.

26. In the spirit of cooperation, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia took note the need of the East Timorese students in their final year of studies at Indonesian institutions of higher learning to complete their studies and to disburse their tuition fees as determined by the relevant institution.
    Both Parties also took note the request from Timor-Leste to accelerate the issuance of the Study Permit and Temporary Residence Visa.

27. Both parties agreed that the good office of Indonesia to assist in finding the location of the remains of Nicolao Lobato, David Alex, Jose da Costa (Mauhodu) and other national heroes whose names will be provided at a later stage.

28. Both Parties agreed to speed up the process of the payment of the pension and former Indonesian civil servant's compensation fund.

29. The Parties agreed to encourage the resettlement away from the border of persons from Timor-Leste residing in West Timor who have opted to remain in Indonesia, to places allocated by the Government of Indonesia, and to facilitate the return of refugees who choose to return to Timor-Leste.

30. On the matter of the Indonesian cemeteries located in Timor-Leste, the Government of Timor-Leste agreed to preserve the cemeteries with the expenses from the Government of the Indonesia and to facilitate access of family members to the cemeteries.

    OTHER COOPERATION

31. Timor-Leste welcomed the offer by the Government of Indonesia to provide training by TNI to members of the F-DRTL.

Done in Dili on 6 September 2003.