Court arbitrates between Australia and East Timor

- The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is considering a dispute between East Timor and Australia over their maritime border. Objections of Australia against interference were pushed Monday by the court on the side.

East Timor wants a ruling from the Court on the question of which side of the border a large oil and gas field is located where the two countries share the revenue arrangement. East Timor argues that the agreements do not apply anymore because Australia has tapped its diplomats.

Australia wants to negotiate at the earliest forty years a permanent border. The process to find a compromise will be conducted behind closed doors in the coming year, according to the court.