DILI, 2025 (TATOLI) – The President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), Tomas Heidar, has arrived in Dili as a special guest of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão to participate in the Second International Conference on the Law of the Sea and Maritime Dispute Settlement.
President Heidar will address the two-day conference, organized by the Office of Land and Maritime Boundaries (GFTM), with the theme: ‘Navigating Challenges: The Law of the Sea and Maritime Dispute Resolution.
The two-day conference, which is scheduled for 15 and 16 May, will explore how international law and mechanisms under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) can assist nations in resolving maritime disputes peacefully.
The discussions over two days will focus around five key themes – Lessons from the Timor Sea Conciliation, Strengthening International Legal Mechanisms, Regional Approaches to Conflict Resolution, Climate Change and Maritime Disputes and Sustainable Resource Management.
The conference will be opened by Timor-Leste’s President Jose Ramos Horta.
Participants include senior officials and representatives from Pacific Island nations, ASEAN countries, the g7+ group of fragile states, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and other nations, who will engage in dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration for the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes.
According to the agenda, before participating in the conference, President Tomas Heidar will visit Balibo, Bobonaro Municipality, and upon returning, will have courtesy meetings with President Ramos-Horta and the President of the Court of Appeal, Afonso Carmona.
On Wednesday, he will visit the Centro Nacional Chega! accompanied by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and will deliver a lecture to Timorese diplomats at the Noble Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEK).
On Thursday, 17 May, Tomas Heidar will visit Ataúro Island to explore the local culture and the beauty of the coastal area, before returning to his country on Sunday, 18 May 2025.
President Heidar arrived in Dili on Sunday and was received by Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Roberto Soares, and the Executive Director of the Office of Land and Maritime Boundaries, Elizabeth Exposto, at the Aeroporto Internacional Presidente Nicolau Lobato.
TATOLI
