INDONESIAN-AUSTRALIAN OFFSHORE BOUNDARY AGREEMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000800270006-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 25, 2012
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: April 9, 1971
• Content Type: CABLE

DEPT. ISTRIB TION
A'T' ^- nFA ART IF?~ZS? ~F CTATF
D I
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TO : Department of State
Info : CANBERRA, LISBON, MEDAN, SURABAYA
FROM :.Amembassy DJAKARTA DATE: April 9, 1971
SUBJECT : Indonesian-Australian Offshore Boundary Agreement
FThe Enclosure to this airgram is a draft agreement initialled by
representatives of the Governments of Australia and Indonesia
Initials:
Drd"
February 20, 1971 in Canberra. It would establish a substantial
part of the seabed boundaries. between Austpalia, Papua and the
-l
Trust Territory of New Guinea on one hand and Indonesia on the other.
The agreement covers two areas:
a) a northward extension of the border between West Irian
and the Trust Territory, and
b) a line extending from a point off the southern. coast of
West Irian to another point south-southwest of the Aru Islands.
There are difficult problems to be resolved at both ends of the
line between Indonesia and mainland Australia. On the eastern o
end, the boundary which would extend south from the Papua-West -<
Irian border is complicated by the Australian claim that the off-n
shore boundary should follow the direction of the Torassi River, v
which forms the southern end of the onshore boundary. Indonesian
As stated. (1 copy to Department only)
GROUP 3
Downgraded at 12 year intervals, not
automatically declassified.
Drafting Date:
W9/71
hone No.:
283
ontents and Cl sification Approve
ECON:E all
_PQ :IF61utz;Jr. (draft) I
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Djakarta A-101
.oil concession maps have shown line drawn due south from New Guinea coast.
Another, more serious problem is presented by the deep-water Timor Trough,
which divides Timor and other Indonesian islands from Australia and its
wide shelf. The Australian position is that the entire shelf adjacent to
its territory and south of Timor Trough is Australian. Indonesia holds that
this shelf is only an extension of the shelf which connects West Irian and
Australia and that a line should be drawn halfway between Indonesian and
Australian territory.
The draft agreement postpones both these problems for further discussions.
Both parties originally planned to sign the agreement formally late in April,
but an officer of the Australian Embassy here reports that the recent cabinet
changes in his country may lead to a postponement until May or June. It will
then have to be ratified by both governments.
COMMENT: By dodging the crunch questions, the two parties have come to
agreement. But failure to resolve.the Timor Sea boundary will probably
retard oil exploration in the area and may lead to disputes in the future.
We expect that the Indonesians and Australians will not pursue the question
further for several years.
It is possible that the Indonesians will open discussions with the Portuguese
to determine offshore boundaries around Timor, where there is now some
petroleum exploration. The Portuguese were clamoring to be admitted to the
Indonesian-Australian discussions, but neither Indonesia nor Australia wanted
the Portuguese included, since they hoped to present Portugal with a fait
accompli.
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CONFIDENTIAL
REPORT ON NEGOTIATIONS
BETWEEN L
INDONESIAN AND AUSTRA IAN DELEGATIONS pp
Vl s
CONCERNING
THE_ESTABLISHMENT OF CERTAIN SEABED B2 DARIES
After exploratory talks in Canberra in March
1970, negotiations took place in Canberra from 15 February
1971 to 20'February 1971 between Indonesian and Australian
delegations concerning the establishment of boundaries in
respect of certain areas of seabed in the Arafura Sea
and off the northern and southern coasts of Irian (the
island of New Guinea).
As a result of the negotiations, the delegations
have agreed to submit for the consideration of their
Governments a draft Agreement and draft Notes in the
form attached hereto.
The two delegations further discussed the
boundary questions that arise in relation to seabed areas
westward of the areas covered by Article I of the draft
Agreement.
Done at Canberra this twentieth day of
February 1971,
For the Indonesian
Delegation:
For the Australian
Delegation:
O.ON F'I?D E,N'TIAL
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AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
ESTABLISHING CERTAIN SEABED BOUNDARIES
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA,
Desiring to.strengthen the bonds of friendship
between the two countries; and
Desiring particularly to cooperate in delimiting
by agreement the boundaries of certain areas of seabed in
which the two countries respectively. exercise sovereign
rights for the exploration and exploitation of the natural
resources,
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
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ARTICLE 1
rIn the Arafura Sea eastwards of Longitude 133?23' East,
the boundary between the area of seabed that is adjacent to and
appertains to the Republic of Indonesia and the area that is
adjacent to and appertains to the Commonwealth of Australia shall
be the straight lines shown on chart 'A' annexed to this Agreement,
commencing at the point of Latitude 90 52' South, Longitude
140? 20' East (Point Al), and thence connecting the points
specified hereunder in the sequence so specified:
A2.
The point of Latitude 10? 24' South, Longitude 139?
46' East
A3.
The point of Latitude 10?50' South, Longitude 139?
12' East
A4.
The point of Latitude 100
24' South, Longitude 138?
38' East
AS.
The point of Latitude 10?
22' South, Longitude 138?
35' East
A6.
The point of Latitude 100
09' South, Longitude 138?
13' East
A7,
The point of. Latitude
9?
57' South, Longitude 137?
45' East
A8.
The point of Latitude
9?
08' South, Longitude 135?
29' East
A9,
The point of Latitude
9?
17' South, Longitude 135?
1.3' East
410. The point of Latitude
99
22' South, Longitude 135?
03' East
All. The point of Latitude
99
25' South, Longitude 134?
501 East
A12. The point of Latitude
8?
53' South, Longitude 133?
23' East
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ARTICLE 2
The two Governments have not provided in this
Agreement for the delimitation of the respective areas
of adjacent seabed westward of Longitude 133? 23' East,
and have left this question for discussion at further talks
to be held at a mutually convenient date.
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ARTICLE 3
1, Off the southern coast of Irian (the island of New
Guinea)jwestwards of Longitude 140? 49' 30'' East, the
boundary between the area of seabed that is adjacent to and
appertains to.the Republic of Indonesia and the area that
is adjacent to and appertains to the Territory of Parua
shall be the straight line shown on chart 'A' annexed to this
Agreement, connecting the point of Latitude 9? 24' 30''
South, Longitude 140? 49' 30'' East (Point 61) with the,
point of Latitude 9? 52' South, Longitude 140? 29' East
(Point Al).
2e .he two Governments have not provided in this
.Agreement for the drawing of a boundary line between the
point B1 referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and the
point at which the and boundary between West Irian and the
Territory of Papua meets the southern coast of Irian
(the island of New Guinea), and have left this question for
further discussion as and when agreed.
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ARTICLE
1, Off the northern coast of Irian (the island of
New Guinea), the boundary between the area of seabed that is
adjacent to and appertains to the Republic of Indonesia
and. the area that is adjacent to and appertains to the
Trust Territory'. of New Guinea shall lie along the straight
line shown on chart 'B' annexed to this Agreement, connecting
the point at which the land boundary between West Irian and
the Trust Territory meets the northern coast of Irian (the
island of New Guinea) (Point Cl) with the point of Latitude
2? 08' 30 ''South, Longitude 141? 01' 30'' East (Point C2),
If any lines are drawn extending this dine northward, they shall
be drawn on the same principle, that.is to say the principle
of equidistance,
2. The lines referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article
l "xal_ bou-ndary of the -respective areas o seabQCt, 1s aged
re to betaken as=:n:d_csing--the_d.restion in which the
----- - ------------
t o 1 i e e
This Article shall not In any way affect any agreement
that: may subsequently be.made between the two Governments
delimiting the lateral boundary of the territorial sea as
between the Republic of Indonesia and the Trust Territory of
New Guinea.
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ARTICLE 5
For the purpose of this Agreement, ''seabed
includes the subsoil thereof, except where the context
otherwise requires.
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AR.TICLC 6
1. The co-ordinates of the points specified in
Articles 1, 3 and 14 of this Agreement are geographical
co-ordinates, and the actual location of the points and
of the lines Joining them shall be determined by a
method to be agreed upon by the competent authorities of
the two Governments,
2. For the purpose of paragraph 1 of this Article
the competent authorities in relation to the Republic of
Indonesia shall be the Chief of the Co-ordinating Body
for National Survey and Mapping (Ketua Badan Koordinasi
Survey Dan Pemetaan Nasional)and any person acting with his
authority, and in relation to the Commonwealth of Australia
shall be the Director of National Mapping and any person acting
with\is authority.
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ARTICLE 7
If any single accumulation of liquid hydrocarbons
or natural gas, or if any other mineral deposit benaat_h the
seabed, extends across any of the lines that are-specified
in Articles 1, 3 and 4 of this Agreement, and the part of
such accumulation or deposit that is situated on one side
of the line is recoverable in fluid form wholly or in part
from the other side of the line, the two Governments will
seek to reach agreement on the manner in which the accumu-
lation or deposit shall be most effectively exploited and
on the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from such
exploitation,
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ARTICLE 8
Any dispute between the two Governments arising
out of the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement
shall be settled peacefully by consultation or negotiation.
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ARTICLE 9
This Agreement is subject to ratification in
accordance with the constitutional requirements of each
country, and shall. enter into force on the day on which
th'e Instruments of Ratification are exchanged.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly
authorised by their respective Governments, have signed
this Agreement.
DONE IN DUPLICATE at
day of 197 in the Indonesian and English
languages.
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE REPUBLIC OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
INDONESIA: AUSTRALIA:
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DRAFT AUSTRALIAN NOTE
Your Excellency,
I have the honour to refer to the Agreement
between the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia
and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, signed
today, establishing certain seabed boundaries.
With regard to the seabed boundary off the northern
coast of the island of New Guinea (Irian), it is the under-
standing of my Government that the agreement in paragraph 1
of Article 4 that the lateral boundary-of the respective
areas lies along the straight line mentioned in that paragraph
does not imply that national jurisdiction in the relevant
areas of seabed extends to or terminates at any particular
point along that line or along any lines extending it.
I should be glad to have your confirmation that
this is also the understanding of your Government.
DRAFT INDONESIAN REPLY
I have the honour to-acknowledge receipt of Your
Excellency's Note of today's date, reading as follows:
(insert text)
I confirm that the understanding recorded in
Your Excellency's Note is also the understanding of my
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A RA F U RA
Extract hom Chan Number 27598 annexed to the
agreement between the Government ofd .om onwealth
of Ausiral,a and the Government of t e Republic of
Indonesia establishing certain seabed bOandares
oO
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140 30'
T
14 0
CHART B
1411?30'
2?0O
Extract from Chan Number 3250 annexed to the
agreement between. the Government of the Commonwealth
of Australia and the Government of the Republic of
Indonesia establishing certain seabed boundaries
TRUST TERRITORY
OF
NEW GUINEA
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