Oil training for Timorese

Oil training for Timorese

CANBERRA (AP): Australian Industry Minister Nick Minchin
announced Wednesday a plan to help train East Timorese people for
jobs in the former Indonesian province's fledgling oil and gas
industry.

The announcement came shortly before Australia and East
Timorese negotiators begin talks on redrafting a treaty dividing
up profits from the rich Timor Gap oil and gas fields under the
sea between northern Australia and East Timor.

A joint body set up by Australia, East Timor and the United
Nations body steering the province to full statehood has set
aside US$700,000 a year for the scheme from royalties paid by oil
companies operating in the area.

"This is something constructive we can do to help improve the
long term economic outlook for the people of East Timor," Minchin
said.

Mari Alkatiri, an East Timorese leader who is minister for
economic affairs in the United Nations Transitional Authority in
East Timor, welcomed the decision.